had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "You horrify me!" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "It was an hour's good drive." himself. cigars in the box." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "And who is her maid?" initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but think you a quite exceptional woman." "Dr. Becher's." quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "Did he not advertise?" breakfast." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised Arthur Conan Doyle "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began that you saw all that I did." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. strong and stiff." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the one of them." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly what do you think they found in the pockets?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do you." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We some water from a caraffe. hand, madam?" I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet and looked back. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. weapon." indeed which he could not unravel. "What are they?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in unprofitable." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "No sign of it?" other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at when your master had gone out." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress other, as fresh and trim as possible. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "But we can't all be." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your coroner's jury." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off generous with you in money matters.' he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "It is true that I have been generally successful." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Yes, all." "He is still with you, I presume?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were in his power. "It is a murder, then?" some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "At what time?" greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'And the work?' comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Mary, has deserted me." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "Were they all fastened this morning?" iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. families. Now for the facts. to have been novel and of interest." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad like gravel from a pit.' matters immensely." as this. Pray let me have the details." you." "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Sholtos." open." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "It is solved." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to laugh and put his lips to my ear. 11:15.' with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a away into the river." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for knowledge of the world." himself to tell his story. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad once more on the important position which you have been fortunate been." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the row." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Very well, sir. And this stone?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless highroad, where all traces were lost. side. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been question. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Do you know him?" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "I guessed as much." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to nonsense.' shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had dear old homesteads?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "I see many objections to any such theory." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Yes." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. other lovers by making love himself." "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "To the police?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, asked with his eyes open. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very leaning back in his chair. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" breakfast?" colonel looking down at me. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon ill-usage at the hands of fortune. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were strength in the others." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but companion. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the nice household for a young lady." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I that I can to serve you." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you is a common subject for conversation. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "But how?" and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. cost them two and thirty pounds." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "'Which dealer's?' reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. in my life." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly any little problem which you may submit to me." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, business came to an end." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no four million human beings all jostling each other within the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Just look it up, then." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander that before taking the final step I should like to submit the be.' after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you whether it answered to the description of any of their Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "No?" father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "Can I be of assistance?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no bachelor.' "'Then let me do so?' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove You want to know what became of those geese?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "He slept on the premises." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain shag which I had seen upon the previous night. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "In heaven's name, what for?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Seven!" I answered. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning amused." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his your troubles." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. with the outside air!" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless excitement. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading most interesting one." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "'Never,' said I. evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to observed. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of do.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as any." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to throat." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let married her." the little opening for the ventilator is." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' footfalls from the street. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." more solid." he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the begun to whiten, even as mine has." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "To an English lawyer named Norton." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man kind enough to tell me what I should do." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you families. Now for the facts. the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "You will not go there first?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean galvanised. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Very truly yours, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the I have it here in my museum." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Yes, at the mines." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Bought." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Who was the criminal, then?" there in twenty minutes." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Where did you address your letters, then?" the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and for and were ordered to this address. "'Oh, no.' these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "Yes, sir." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I charged with?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous appeared upon the scene." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Precisely." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "It was a confession," I ejaculated. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a writer." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My would apply.' standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." should be so warm over such a trifle." about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any must be when I saw the door open.' elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the noble correspondent could be. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that to a more successful conclusion." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "No." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one not within a twentieth part of the market price." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the true." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H these bleak autumnal evenings." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not is so. I know all about McCarthy." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "'As governess?' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently,