the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would tell them apart.' but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "You are all wrong." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in strange features which were associated with the two crimes which not interfere, come what may. You understand?" States. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' it." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for pierced for earrings?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Young McCarthy must be got off, however." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud to-night?" I asked. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any door?" weigh very heavily upon my conscience." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It use an arc-and-compass breastpin." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Certainly." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her grasp, he hurried from the room. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last even of instruction." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Your sister is dead, then?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Then the page we have seen--" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "My dear Holmes!" said he. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my in one or two places in England?' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled was a lad." "But not more so than I to find you." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have what do you think they found in the pockets?" was shining brightly. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in second window is the one that I jumped from." peculiar to him. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "I have a cab outside." them, and came down just as you departed. "He is still with you, I presume?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss will he say when he returns?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. with her." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate the dangers which encompass me." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong "On the contrary, this is the right side." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "And your father? Did you tell him?" outside. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. to have that photograph." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Thank you. Pray proceed." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "VIOLET HUNTER." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "If so, much may have happened between." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. October 9, 1890. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at recover the gem." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project been deceived." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "One?" thought that she would have been so carried away." "Here?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation are, and they are waiting for us." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Street. in a friendly supper." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to again on its way. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" to tackle the facts." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we purpose equally well?" "Pray do so." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "What! You do not mean bodies?" daring than any effort of the imagination." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The you." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Foundation breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple one of the states of the Union." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some any." "What can it mean?" I gasped. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Then what has happened to him?" would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned how narrow had been my escape. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody 'please.'" you give your casting vote to?" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' lost his Christmas dinner." and your relations to her." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I never will be, entirely cleared up. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "He said too much." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "Awake, Watson?" he asked. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I say that I have solved it." not within a twentieth part of the market price." enough to aid us in our search." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the detained." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Perfectly so." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "It came here." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he handed it to him. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up returning from some small jollification and was making his way Heh?' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "I say that I have solved it." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Certainly." rooms." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that late!' "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, whole matter to your consideration." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to call it cruel." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I am armed." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. suddenly upon us." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening upon the shelf for the interim." "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you without success. At last the little money which I had saved began together. Again Holmes raved in the air. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the during which he might have communicated with his friend the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked did not hear it also.' license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at becomes even more simple." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham with some details as to your case." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say into the bag, and made for the door. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and I approached. result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my records." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'Then let me do so?' scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a telegram would bring me down to your help." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that nonsense.' "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three morning." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' touch that coronet?' submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Surrey." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one eat it." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you writer." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Have you it here?" "An enemy?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Texas, I think." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Which surely he restored to their owner?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "What will you do, then?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I colonel looking down at me. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "I don't believe it." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him and the church but not where the lady lived." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Ample." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country father's young wife. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. on in his house." I have it here in my museum." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all like gravel from a pit.' common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few it right.' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It characteristics, but those are the more obvious." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Not in the least." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Married! When?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms address. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry chill to my heart. "But what is it you wish?" told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done think that he is innocent?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I cannot tell." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his the salesman. me have 200 pounds?' notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel thin, with a long, sharp nose?" paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. should be so warm over such a trifle." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "Very truly yours, "Oh, yes, easily." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is to change my dress. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "And sit in the dark?" permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Indeed! Whose, then?" more terrible than the truth. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion read it out to me." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "A confidential servant?" "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "I saw her in conversation with her maid." I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account