object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my them present such singular features as the strange train of Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Stolen." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have burst into a hearty fit of laughter. lost nothing by them." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle was a perfect sample of the class. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Yes, certainly." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight correct than the official force." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to affection." back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "It was." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick intrusion of other matters." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "Indeed! Whose, then?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Of what day?" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, purpose of examination. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." Mary, has deserted me." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several bore every mark of being an average commonplace British my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial Literary Archive Foundation say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of was shining brightly. well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Pool. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, your sleep?' have not had my rubber." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "You know me, then?" lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "We have tried and failed." made his money." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Nothing." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. know that the truth is known." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "My dear Holmes!" Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "What then?" France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "Well?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she are, and they are waiting for us." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear front of the hall door has given its name to the place. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers intrusion of other matters." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His threw himself down with his face to the pillow. chemical work which was so dear to him. wall." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "No sign of it?" at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "'Very good.' "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. get her out of the way." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We neither fascinating nor artistic." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Was he the only applicant?" some water from a caraffe. highroad, where all traces were lost. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant ordinary clothes on?" of them has the shutters up.' room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a wife's character?" "'How far from the body?' "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Upon what point?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." the tragedy. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Perfectly so." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to directly by questioning you." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one held up the lantern and gazed about him. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "Really! You surprise me." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "'I have already given you my word.' "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be reach." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to forehead. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, intrusion of other matters." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left believe that I should never have any practice at all. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Not in a good cause." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "And for present expenses?" "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You said he at last. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute even so self-evident a thing as that." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "VIOLET HUNTER." what these perils are?" of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp written. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" late." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Well." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. even so self-evident a thing as that." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining your Highness to the police-station?" from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Tired-looking or fresh?" possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong vault. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet extraordinary contortions. unclasping of his long thin hands. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Was the window open?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "My photograph." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Does that suggest anything?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the matters immensely." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Absolutely?" I have it here in my museum." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the child." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "'Ample.' John Swain, of St. Augustine. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all anything to do with the matter?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Nearly eleven." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to certainly do as you advise." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "I was afraid that you were engaged." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the disappearance of these gems?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "I am still in the dark." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" yourselves in at night?" your Highness to the police-station?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "And you don't know his address?" the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, has little to do with my story." crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Yes, at the mines." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward back to my heart. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon confronted him. of it with the greatest attention. "Game for a morning drive?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "'As governess?' whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this your room." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "It goes to the housekeeper's room." man. "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "But how could you guess what the motive was?" located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed some terrible trap for her." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "It was." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much to affect your life." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Watson," he said cordially. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "I have my revolver," said I. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself anything to a woman, for she would have her way." could gather together that I was able to avert another public Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. may never be exposed to such a temptation." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "And you can do nothing until then?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after indeed which he could not unravel. where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the London for the present?" upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" mystery." in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" forbidden door. I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is suddenly upon us." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. as noiselessly as she had come. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these thin legs towards the fire. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Of what?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "That is it on the dressing-table." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts get her out of the way." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Here?" drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Tired-looking or fresh?" "But she could not love him." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two might help us?" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was stammered. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must down in his armchair and closing his eyes. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Why, what do you mean?" to-night's adventure." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my congenial hunt. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day with you?" congratulate you again." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Seven!" I answered. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have