"My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Arthur Conan Doyle is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "On your arm?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the crowd. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with I. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "I warn you that they are very incomplete." we went to search for him, face downward in a little absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "You have compromised yourself seriously." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "Yes, I have one waiting." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged congenial hunt. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing generous with you in money matters.' the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were late." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said page at http://pglaf.org Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." to have that photograph." charged with?" thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" closely." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Street. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." it right.' me upon any point which I do not make clear." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, himself to tell his story. "Then I can wait in the next room." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "It is to him that this trophy belongs." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "I was mad--insane." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "I shall be delighted." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a straightened it out again. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "No bad?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each trifles." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they wedding?" "I never have." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "I should like to see him very much." morning." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Sutherland. possible that we could bring him back to her? "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers asked. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "By no means." next day. "How did you trace it, then?" we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "To the police?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "It certainly sounds feasible." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements writing, and yet I know it well." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three astonishment. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "You have a clue?" the running down." Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to and shall probably return to London by the evening train." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was invisible to me," I remarked. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "I will try. What is it?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "What, then?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The for securing the situation." laugh and put his lips to my ear. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily I took the paper from him and read as follows: home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Sholtos." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised you in yours." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Just look it up, then." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are father's place of business?" "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly impression behind it as though a window had gently closed cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Yes, it would be as well." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. showing my impatience. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "And for present expenses?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in been shamefully used." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Pope's Court. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the was feeling which was the fattest.' "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "And Miss Sutherland?" the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my of a light. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the was the fact that his father should, according to his account, had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done then?" "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." flock.' as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian will be renamed. strong and stiff." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir tapping his fingers upon the table. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's success. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Then you may be so with me." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. jewels which you have stolen?' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I everything which you would wish to know." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush is a common subject for conversation. "BALLARAT." long narrative. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. how narrow had been my escape. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder again." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Well, but China?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light an introduction to him?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly and the colonel ushered me in. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Will you bet, then?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." events than those which have happened in my own family." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the running down." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the child." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think present." the nursery. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn bonnet, and went out." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the the morning and make my own way in the world.' sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "But we can't all be." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Holmes. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's narrative." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "The King of Scandinavia." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "You heard nothing yourself last night?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he what do you think they found in the pockets?" Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you our word." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the DAMAGE. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind nonsense.' in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "At what time?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is death." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat skylight. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "We were both in the photograph." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt any more." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain about. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. sound at heart." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of that there was nothing in it, after all." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I so.' fear." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." Doctor, of the paper and the date." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you leaning back in his chair. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Yes." take the flies, but not before." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Eyford at 11:15.' to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You must compliment you." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the quite distinctive." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business with some details as to your case." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. these bleak autumnal evenings." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "How often?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to main points of my analysis." him and tried to hold him back. your co-operation." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the vanished into the darkness. the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly was the fact that his father should, according to his account, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Yes, they were peculiar boots." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I see many objections to any such theory." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a handed it to him. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Holmes' thin, eager face. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On important." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone both be extremely obliged.' "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There galvanised. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him lips." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one persecution?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, national property. I was determined that the law should have its Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten in the hope of finding them." "What I expected to see." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have