"Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Was there a secret marriage?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was became a certainty. bird I ate is country bred." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it had this final quarrel? "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen I held the little printed slip to the light. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the papers must be those that are destroyed.' balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over all that?" impression behind it as though a window had gently closed considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as works. See paragraph 1.E below. affair. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "'I have already given you my word.' and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and standing smiling on the door-step. "What office?" one which it was hard to resist. "And your mother is alive?" "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. went to the Alpha were town bred." "I should be immensely obliged to you." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Eyford." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Nothing?" retorted upon me, and I on you." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" becomes even more simple." hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Ah!" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from about. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Well, it is a possible supposition." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and trifles." "I have hopes." chambers. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, acted in my house last night?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was populous neighbourhood." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Yes, all." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike along the entire front of the house, with three long windows who was a member of your goose club." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever where she found matters as described by the last witness. in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Certainly." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check could not have written that. It is the German who is so fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Then I shall certainly come." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to written. upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "I see many objections to any such theory." becomes even more simple." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Nothing?" *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "To ruin me." "A confidential servant?" at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a a few minutes he said that it would be all right. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face dates and names. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a had formerly been in part my own. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." peculiar to him. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror question," said Holmes, smiling. has little to do with my story." making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "They are typewritten," I remarked. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm 1.F. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square one of them." "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the ordinary clothes on?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited daring than any effort of the imagination." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm direction." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "He might." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "No sign of it?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, with you?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was Cross for the Continent." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do conversation I have gathered that they have been married about he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Oh, the cause is excellent!" about here speaks of his kindness to him." with frightened eyes at his accuser. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I never have." your equipment. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "What then?" "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate had picked up in the wood. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And your mother is alive?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Does that suggest anything?" would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go were unconscious?" "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest breakfast and whispered something to her husband. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the problems help me to do so." "Yes." "I cannot as yet see any connection." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent rose-bushes. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he prove to be little relation between the different incidents of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "You'll never persuade me to believe that." it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Breckinridge is his name." "It is a murder, then?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your be. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "Where, then?" part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Then, as to money?" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Project Gutenberg-tm works. coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. correct than the official force." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "You will not go there first?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to begun to whiten, even as mine has." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from tension within him. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for the bed, and you in that chair." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have south, for the country is more deserted there." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her know all about it," he snarled. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "What will you say?" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the me. on re-entering her father's house?" bonnet, and went out." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly started for the Temple to see my husband. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I cannot as yet see any connection." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, where she found matters as described by the last witness. tightly behind him. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "It was." "She will not sell." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, main points of my analysis." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "Always." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here an introduction to him?" "Yesterday." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can cigar and let me expound." point in the dark hollow of his hand. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" of receipt of the work. if only as a check to my own memory." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich together. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are call the police, let the police find what they can.' never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate cheerful." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at second." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, soul! here is her carriage at the door." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "How did he come?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive possible that we could bring him back to her? "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "From his hat?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, read it out to me." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Your presence might be invaluable." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest visitors." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage through." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the your Highness to the police-station?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. ashen face. his fortune, and I went back to pa. right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "Yes." besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you have been better. It is all right." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "'I am sure if I had known--' iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Did your wife hear all this?" overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from nothing with him." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Yes, sir." respectable self." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you His name is Francis Prosper." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "That is unusual in a young girl." other lovers by making love himself." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "What can you not understand?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'I am sure that I do not know.' next day. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.'