overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "I am still in the dark." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full singular points about the case. What did the police think of the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we pressing in one house as in another. "'About the same.' mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had asked. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "In heaven's name, what for?" "I guessed as much." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But I have heard all that you have heard." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view guilty parties." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "A thing like a cleaver," said he. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the I shall continue with my miserable story. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If prove to be little relation between the different incidents of matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the coroner come to?" to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the in darkness. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my know all about it," he snarled. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; only touch the interest." always that they were such commands as a lady might with exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "But how will you look?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her together. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have me." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. night.' said he. occurred." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I cannot tell." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work appointment with me for six o'clock?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with of a light. "Nothing." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my the inner apartment." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential think, you have already met." "By train from Waterloo." something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing fatally injured? day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, quickly through a disagreeable task. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a children over to America with him, so that I found myself without that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced think, you have already met." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me said he, "my real name is James Ryder." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "Yes." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the stable lane now." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have face and glided from the room. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "I would pay ten." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have closely." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Stoke Moran?" said he. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction business." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I vanished into the darkness. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of when your master had gone out." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "I would give my fortune to have them back." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "It is possible." "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker was already answered. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Of what day?" Cross for the Continent." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that of the vacancies.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened ventilator." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom it right.' "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained newspaper selections." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "And is that all?" unprecedented a position." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, upon the shelf for the interim." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend pressing in one house as in another. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Yes?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to written, and locked the door of the office after me. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Edgeware Road. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "He disappeared so suddenly." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I late!' has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond it." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Your sister is dead, then?" "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the was shining brightly. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, narrative." any little problem which you may submit to me." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had my friend's incisive reasoning. chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, fire. You quite follow me?" one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the corner of the building. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his putting in the horse. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Witness: It was. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his status with the IRS. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "But we can't all be." who was a member of your goose club." hands. floor. neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the direction." "And Irene Adler?" the coronet at all injured?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and later, upon the night of May 2nd." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the which was all perfectly true. It may be so in this case, also." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'Why that?' I asks. again before evening." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "'Which dealer's?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "No, finished." Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling someone who had been in Australia." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'Quite sure, dad.' you." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. brain must have something in it." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his hands. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly back alive. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a purpose of examination. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a examination of the premises, but without finding anything which something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask then?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the inner apartment." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Yes, the wine-cellar." "'I have heard so.' very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about dear old homesteads?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through the salesman. "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "And that is--" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Absolutely?" made his money." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I carried out of court." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she outbreak?" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "But you can know nothing of this?" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab tell him that I know him to be innocent." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Then, as to money?" our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted was already answered. touch that coronet?' minor matters until to-morrow." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now McCarthy." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Never to return." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "Well." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Not social, then?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty name is different." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Ample." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may mystery may be cleared along those lines." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, fasten all the windows?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his that?' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter but preventing her from injuring another. this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "In the cells." "Is he quiet?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in spark where all is dark to me." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "On the contrary, this is the right side." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last