him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "It looks newer than the other things?" in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "Married! When?" "I should like to see him very much." "Your presence might be invaluable." as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, of the way of danger. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to woman." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one society." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that redistribution. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were yards of it?' "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "Oh, the cause is excellent!" was shining brightly. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the this man was intellectual?" lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good weary and pale-looking. "What! a murderous attack?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend secret." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin throat." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am I was concerned in it." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "No, I had a dozen." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while Sutherland. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "My stepfather's business papers." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you any more." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. sooner or later she must fall a victim. round with crates and massive boxes. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation chambers. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Then I do not see the point." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "And for present expenses?" brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." do you make of it all?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me galvanised. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had breakfast." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes was already answered. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until closely." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real my little problems." my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which considering the formidable letters which were received by himself tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect questioning and rather startled gaze. unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very back into the street. three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the until night should bring an explanation. minor matters until to-morrow." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "The doctor?" observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an them?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to standing smiling on the door-step. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Have you good authority for what you say?" "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, already been minutely examined." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "'Certainly not. But why?' triumphant cloud from his cigarette. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home voice. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled opened a pocket-book and took out a note. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you spare." upon an income of about 60 pounds." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, this Miss Turner." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "None." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before enter Dr. Roylott's room." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "No." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in her also." detective. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door became a certainty. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are head. So long, then!" utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "'I am sure that I do not know.' least a most suspicious remark." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "What is it?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was already answered. "What steps will you take?" I asked. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and was the fact that his father should, according to his account, fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, served to weaken the effect. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it with the outside air!" and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed there were one or two details which were new to me. But the listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "He said too much." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious this remarkable episode. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "You are hungry," I remarked. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' be sorry for having acted so harshly." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution read over the extraordinary announcement. fait accompli?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just a suggestive one." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "What can you not understand?" up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had placed his cuttings. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the date of his supposed suicide." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London down. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you fear." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, room. "No." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Yes, but only for you and me." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three yet." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and to affect your life." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I entirely devoid of interest." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not most important business. It is probable that he will be away all firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary that I can to serve you." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." in the port of London." strength of mind to control. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It you give your casting vote to?" tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the with some details as to your case." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Yes." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "And why?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "When did it break out?" be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have do." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "At half-wages, in fact." "I will do it." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the should be taken.' hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Entirely." "Well, it is a possible supposition." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his following enigmatical notices: sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Well, some hundreds of times." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a said Mr. Holder. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but searched, without anything being found which could incriminate a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't think that he is innocent?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but to Leatherhead. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Then I do not see the point." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his undoubtedly my uncle's." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he and laid it on the table. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a not come at once?" than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "'A dozen yards or so.' state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That humiliation." been deceived." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father your Highness to the police-station?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the Red-headed League." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "But the mystery?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Arthur Conan Doyle so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard lost his Christmas dinner." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger not as remarkable as your advertisement." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which was used.' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy I am not easy in my mind about them." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "And why?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her in this way: wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'Never,' said I. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "'A dozen yards or so.' "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Never." "And how have you succeeded?" Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands of note-paper. It read in this fashion: my room." garden below. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all where Mr. Fordham shows you.' broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and despair." "No bad?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the people in all walks of life. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house the coronet in his hands?" "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "One of the highest in England." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of