"Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "But I am all in the dark." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the himself. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise emerged. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly article?" "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic II. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Seven!" I answered. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. indeed which he could not unravel. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth over here." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "I was mad--insane." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and of the vacancies.' "I cannot think." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for was lame." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." populous neighbourhood." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the detective. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" views." you, my dear young lady?' lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "It is his hat." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'And the work?' he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at about. figure." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. locked. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Yesterday." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Yes." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich your own bird, so if you wish--" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but furiously. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Yes." a room. accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "But we can't all be." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Yes." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "It goes to the housekeeper's room." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in to-night?' "ARAT," I read. bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded me upon any point which I do not make clear." appointment with me for six o'clock?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." handed it to him. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 way: "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few attention." troubles have been weighing upon his mind. again, where I was soon asleep. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to Leatherhead. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of on in his house." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the assist you in forming an opinion." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "He might." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "ARAT," I read. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "On Monday." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you point in the dark hollow of his hand. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his washing it down with a long draught of water. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very at my own good fortune. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round companion quietly. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, leave you to your papers for a little." "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. how narrow had been my escape. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" Henry Baker is a member." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked at a side door. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of intrusion of other matters." "No." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I fishes. "No." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "What are they?" delighted to hear it," he said. "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may from you?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social it means?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on corner of the building. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a ran thus: tied." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "How on earth--" "That is unusual in a young girl." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New go back?" society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small went to the Alpha were town bred." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which breakfast and whispered something to her husband. to tackle the facts." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Where did you address your letters, then?" followed. introspective fashion. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make that threaten you." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by seven miles from Eyford Station.' "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Holmes." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "What?" father's young wife. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy tied." observed. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Certainly, madam." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "By all means." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with into her hand at the door and which lured her within their knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his look upon these things in a different way." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much I held the little printed slip to the light. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in three of the beryls in it, was missing. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore strength in the others." "No?" woven round him. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began of his shoulders. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by of receipt of the work. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of tear off another piece?' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Where did he live, then?" Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern in the port of London." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "My dear Holmes!" "Very much so." with you?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "At the wedding breakfast." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to some place of shelter and let the county police know what has late!' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which not within a twentieth part of the market price." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon Countess of Morcar's?" said I. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave to-night's adventure." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Perhaps I have." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during appeared upon the scene." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "But not more so than I to find you." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible even so self-evident a thing as that." India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the hard-headed British jury." the address that was given us in the advertisement. mystery may be cleared along those lines." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from true." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had interest. They are important, you understand, without being as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose and glanced through. During two years I have had three consultations and one small roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Was she in good spirits?" laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and that, and I came down." electronic works uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to indeed happy." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the