"Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Nothing?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" your co-operation." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest Leave Paddington by the 11:15." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and I held the little printed slip to the light. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice you." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Whose house is it?" gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate asked. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding and inquire as to the address." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most drove away. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Not particularly." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a upon the shelf for the interim." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the have I gained?" And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Very much so." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "How many? I don't know." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Why, what do you mean?" You can understand that this register and diary may implicate disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could empty. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Texas, I think." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the http://www.gutenberg.net "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'Yes, sir.' TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to that, and I came down." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were begun to whiten, even as mine has." the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a introspective fashion. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my goes." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "'As governess?' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous night.' said he. During two years I have had three consultations and one small slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their straighten it?" floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court to-night?' maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him client, rising. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to when your master had gone out." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "I am still in the dark." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always advice." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the against a man in the prime of life?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no to Leatherhead. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I hair?' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an you." fatally injured? "My private note-paper." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, narrative." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have my little problems." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "Then what has happened to him?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "He said too much." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me good for you to do.' sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, second." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My as he folded up the epistle. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it what is your own theory as to what took place?" and your relations to her." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the page at http://pglaf.org hurried by. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible that I am arrested." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I do." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable out." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from him and tried to hold him back. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "The Coroner: What do you mean? had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your question. before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be them?" "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built sparkled upon his finger. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only populous neighbourhood." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our tension within him. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier said he. then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "I shall be delighted." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle gone. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were or in danger--" "Indeed! Whose, then?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of begun to whiten, even as mine has." until night should bring an explanation. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. narrative." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur as he remarks, very much against the son." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate DISSOLVED. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy criminal. We have already had experience of such." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and get the tickets." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. meant it for the best. however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. was shining brightly. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'Ten to two.' once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason upon the white wrist. are, I think, all that we need." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your indeed happy." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel cause to be." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much about. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I cannot tell." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I beg that you will break it off." a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Did you observe the colour?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "But how did you gain them?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time to affect your life." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "It is half-past ten now." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "And now?" I asked. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, mystery!" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "The rest you will leave in our hands." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's was used.' We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "It is possible." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from four million human beings all jostling each other within the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if not come at once?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. make me his representative both with the servants and with the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the inner apartment." any." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the were new raised from a basin. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for you?' was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate asked with his eyes open. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "By no means." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Miss Holder?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." breakfast." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which to-night." "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor instituted." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this stood on the top of it. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite how narrow had been my escape. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." legal crime." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the little trying to do so much typewriting?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some The police have openly confessed that they can at present make very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Which are?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. it means?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. for its centre. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "So I have heard." heavy and sharp instrument." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, "'Ample.' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call hour?' fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Then I do not see the point." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the had formerly been in part my own. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "And why?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the is four-and-twenty." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the should be taken.' was a lad." trying to your nerves." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "What have you done?" asked Holmes. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day mystery." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Count Von Kramm." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Was your sister dressed?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Not social, then?" "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out of receipt of the work. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Eyford." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that during that time.' c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Eyford." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "But she could not love him." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of tension within him. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my of a light. "Yes, from Horsham." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from was shining brightly. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had eavesdroppers?' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the views." politicians who had been sent down from the North. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman suggested at once that there must be a communication between the believe that I should never have any practice at all. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "Very much so." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. said I. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "What then?" "Then, how do you know?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Just look it up, then." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of