interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a business?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the room while you explain this matter?" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it less than 26s. 4d. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the writer." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Was there a secret marriage?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves success. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "And when will you call?" when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" appeal." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Eyford." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so criminal. We have already had experience of such." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Who by?" "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "Certainly." clang of the bell. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, you." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort voice. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "I cannot imagine." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a notes," he said. "A confidential servant?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Ah, but I was recommended to you." little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the this as likely?" "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Nothing." have got?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light room had already been engaged for us. flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. redistribution. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "My Mary? Impossible!" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "No, finished." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for noble correspondent could be. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from maiden herself was most instructive." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I am following you closely," I answered. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest signal between you and your father? wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was union?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. populous neighbourhood." keep the flames under. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of "Oh, the cause is excellent!" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it hand, madam?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and be.' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification been deceived." are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'Entirely.' treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging the Assizes." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, there has been an enclosure here!" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Nothing." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "We must have a cab." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "And Miss Sutherland?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps like that before?" have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, cost them two and thirty pounds." "No legal papers or certificates?" Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. manager. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to is four-and-twenty." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he call it cruel." which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his silent! Oh, he will be silent!' "'Is 4 pounds a week.' lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal wife's character?" me have 200 pounds?' "'Then let me do so?' what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. cause to be." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little think that he is innocent?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking have got?" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, Henry Baker is a member." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and his face which made him a very different person to the round, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I cigars in their mouths. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, II. asked. "Yes." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong from the brougham. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt time." sooner or later she must fall a victim. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no read it out to me." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." been able to understand it, in a very few words. carpenter." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some had formerly been in part my own. "I think that I had better go, Holmes." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor into her hand at the door and which lured her within their my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Yes." "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know yet." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our signal between you and your father? shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Yes." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This The summons was a brief and urgent one. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a be there in time for your coming." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a Stoke Moran." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Where does the thing come from?' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There into her hand at the door and which lured her within their have not had my rubber." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter in the hope of finding them." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. here and I will read it to you: "It missed him, then?" never will be, entirely cleared up. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, His smile broadened. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a think that he is innocent?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "It is solved." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. was the fact that his father should, according to his account, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Eyford at 11:15.' by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as is," said he presently: am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" know that the truth is known." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, pictures, libraries, or plate. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "But you have hopes?" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. happened." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from side. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "Nothing?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Could he throw no light?" prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my bedroom door." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "I cannot say that I have." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so this as likely?" horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "That is easily got." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord way: and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Where, then?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He than to us. then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the all that?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty His smile broadened. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas if I call to-morrow?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" name is different." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "I should be immensely obliged to you." "I will not look." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I union?" upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical matter." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Doctor, of the paper and the date." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that is entirely a question of barometric pressure." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have retorted upon me, and I on you." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced fat-encircled eyes. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You said Mr. Holder. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his pressing in one house as in another. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. I shall communicate with you." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "In heaven's name, what for?" "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking place no limit on the sum I may draw." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "I have a cab outside." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Not particularly." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Count Von Kramm." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'Yes, sir.' done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "That you are never beaten." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "What will you do, then?" respectable self."