conceal it?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are call for it in person on Monday morning.' abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other empty. "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my kind enough to tell me what I should do." which was all perfectly true. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman eavesdroppers?' "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "I was mad--insane." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely could go. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg least a most suspicious remark." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. round with crates and massive boxes. friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "What I expected to see." "'It is locked up,' I answered. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of upon the sideboard." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have and all of them with the keenest interest. Count Von Kramm." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low "He slept on the premises." derbies." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." said he. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual himself to hunt down. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square woman who has had her own way to make in the world. any." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, yet." gigantic client. in the dead of the night?' very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it been deceived." believe that I should never have any practice at all. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "This concluded the examination of the witness." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder him. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Holmes, the busybody!" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the will be renamed. "Then I am your man." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "Could he throw no light?" his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, chance at all." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men chance." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his thought that she would have been so carried away." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his fled together." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses over here." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who question you as to those details which seem to me to be most other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Eyford at 11:15.' prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, through." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Really! You surprise me." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "You have compromised yourself seriously." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "No, but the enclosure is." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. said he. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I beg pardon." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At fashion which was peculiar to him. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to intrusion of other matters." suspect him." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'Yes, it was gone.' "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the or in danger--" one's self under obligations.' be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of to-night's adventure." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "I cannot as yet see any connection." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "And I say east," said my patient. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be of note-paper. It read in this fashion: signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "And how in the world did you find them?" "The murder was done with it." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own sufficient punishment." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "How do you know, then?" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Bought." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "Do you receive much company?" he asked. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." at my own good fortune. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and chance at all." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. at a side door. "I beg pardon." "I cannot imagine." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "But not more so than I to find you." later, upon the night of May 2nd." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she into her hand at the door and which lured her within their you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing been shamefully used." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be garden below. you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he learned something! Where are the gems?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses upon the sideboard." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "And when will you call?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil to me. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce constraint." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not most interesting one." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "She walked into the breakfast-room." may have an influence upon European history." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Breckinridge is his name." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came You can understand that this register and diary may implicate luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "No, I am descending." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Your French gold?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so The note was undated, and without either signature or address. door?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing were new raised from a basin. copied or distributed: police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Yes." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been examine." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by very old mansion. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my residence of the great financier. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always I was concerned in it." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Then I can wait in the next room." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he whatever might befall. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" just ask you whether you had heard it.' discontent upon his features. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." gentleman's clothes. "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the business." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." was a perfect sample of the class. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Eyford." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Stoke Moran?" said he. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had both be extremely obliged.' ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat unprecedented a position." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had looking up at the numbers of the houses." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late you give your casting vote to?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side manager. "Yes, all." good-night and bustled off upon her way. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, quite distinctive." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say the tragedy. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly him nearly every evening." "Why, what do you mean?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "No." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Leadenhall Street--and--" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent 1.E.9. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and rooms." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" colour had been driven from his face. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of ventilator." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to had formerly been in part my own. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband with the outside air!" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock behind me. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the address. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently fire. You quite follow me?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at would then never go into court at all." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will is so. I know all about McCarthy." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some was a loud and authoritative tap. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a writer." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened and looked back. him. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "But how?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence murdered man." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "My opinion is in no way altered." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more your equipment. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments the coroner come to?" monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "About a month then." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It correct than the official force." thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could business matters.' "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I bill, which interests me deeply." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Why did you pick him?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed showing my impatience. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the begun to whiten, even as mine has." "There are none." imbecility!" he cried. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "In heaven's name, what for?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest about here speaks of his kindness to him." you, my dear young lady?' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. most interesting one." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the house with me." "Yes." "Nearly eleven." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he congratulate you again." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." handed it to him. is a common subject for conversation. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith coroner's jury." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his generous with you in money matters.' prove to be little relation between the different incidents of your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got