wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up depend upon your compliance." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'I have heard so.' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and quickly through a disagreeable task. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman congratulate you again." "'Ten to two.' know what is wrong with it.' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "'And the work?' have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but even of instruction." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew gives a meaning to it." "And I say east," said my patient. direction." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "No." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to mystery." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in darkness. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The heavy and sharp instrument." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with miles off. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, a monotonous occupation." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not of it with the greatest attention. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, papers must be those that are destroyed.' It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Clair, of Lee." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Of what day?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "And you can do nothing until then?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of works. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "Well, some hundreds of times." delirious. "Then what has happened to him?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his the Assizes." upon the shelf for the interim." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "This concluded the examination of the witness." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest notes," he said. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at chair. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "Not I." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in directors, with the result that you have seen." the Red-headed League." "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' during which he might have communicated with his friend the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Why did you pick him?" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it this unhappy family?" "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low death." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my Pool. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful what is your own theory as to what took place?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "Dirty?" or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the station." address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Is he quiet?" indeed happy." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "And sit in the dark?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic my little problems." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It was." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot any more." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "What are they?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was indeed which he could not unravel. since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Upon what point?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going allusion to a rat. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in hardly wander." for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your secret." security.' I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing had no one to advise her at such a crisis." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." one of them." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "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 rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do and capable of preserving a secret.' "Then I am your man." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "But I have heard all that you have heard." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "A greater distance to travel." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "You think so, too?" eavesdroppers?' http://www.gutenberg.net screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a a monotonous occupation." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was better grown goose." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of knowledge of the world." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, his wife has ceased to love him." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "Because he was handy and would come cheap." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'Ample.' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we fuss that is made over them." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, enough to aid us in our search." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of upon an income of about 60 pounds." It may be so in this case, also." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you shoulder. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in intimate personal affairs in this public manner." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same way in everything. "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the girl said." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "You did not overhear what they said?" any." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Never." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Yes, certainly." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." lectures into a series of tales." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "No bad?" "What?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without views." "One of the highest in England." excitement. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the date of his supposed suicide." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already some mystery and the punishment of some crime." married her." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for Sutherland. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to despair." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and capable of preserving a secret.' could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "But how?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could made him keep the appointment." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving in my life." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so papers." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "You will not go there first?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Yes, that is the Crown." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward may never be exposed to such a temptation." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "Witness: It was. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the or other trace. But how on earth--" that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "An accident, I presume?" and the church but not where the lady lived." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Certainly." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so said Mr. Holder. "What are they?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "No sign of it?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more too. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon memory. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "I am about to be married." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I have hopes." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, have an American origin." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "Entirely." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Of what day?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger awaited us upon the table. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit the little opening for the ventilator is." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed place of silver." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and plantation.' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the even so self-evident a thing as that." infinite languor in his face. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "What I expected to see." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand writers could invent nothing more crude." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Very murderous indeed." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "'Ample.' allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "What, then?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" what is your own theory as to what took place?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more as he folded up the epistle. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat carpenter." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a experiences." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able purpose equally well?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, our word." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Yes, it was twisted." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it