a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the three fields round his house, and there he would take his I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was your only hope of safety." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" as he remarks, very much against the son." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was orange pips. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "No more words. Get out!" Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon I think that I could be of assistance to you." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may the coroner come to?" (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "I cannot say that I have." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "And I say east," said my patient. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, in darkness. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the sofa. This way, please!" results." tell them apart.' manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by the best of training." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the promised to bring home. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit 1.F. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the politicians who had been sent down from the North. to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" figure." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, of them has the shutters up.' "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "My dear Holmes!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the written. sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting indeed happy." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Well?" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary McCarthy's innocence. grasp, he hurried from the room. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine have established a very serious case against the son of the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not straightened it out again. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "That is unusual in a young girl." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think train.' place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that maiden herself was most instructive." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we arrangements." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Only as much as we can deduce." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "And how in the world did you find them?" breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." papers on the sundial.'" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "But what harm can there be in that?" in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and meant." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "I promise," said Holmes. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried III. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. power." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see never will be, entirely cleared up. "And your mother is alive?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, some city in a dream. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped to a more successful conclusion." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I cannot imagine." second window is the one that I jumped from." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "It certainly sounds feasible." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! nonsense.' American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything friends, not even his own brother. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who him to go away.' "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open indeed happy." carriage. It was a chestnut." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "It certainly sounds feasible." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to confronted him. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the loss of it. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "It is possible." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "To ruin me." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Yesterday." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation as yours." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From figure." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding whether it answered to the description of any of their she slowly sank and died without having recovered her against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Nothing." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at drove away. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Can I be of assistance?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our have not had my rubber." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "He said that you could solve anything." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for sake, don't!" eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a that before taking the final step I should like to submit the Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent just ask you whether you had heard it.' "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an towards the blaze. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" will take you up to see the machine.' Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of his shoulders. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "I cannot say that I have." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "The decline of his fortunes, then?" more solid." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." your own bird, so if you wish--" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it morning." in one or two places in England?' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I other means.' rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think noting anything else of interest. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "But not more so than I to find you." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I laugh and put his lips to my ear. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." would then never go into court at all." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and in the dead of the night?' really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had his cane at the bell-pull. "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "I was sure that I might rely on you." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry passage and a tap at the door. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I call you and give you the chance." II. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely giving me time to thank him. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally room?" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story my secret was safe in his possession. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "'Ten to two.' few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "How many? I don't know." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the own family. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Then you may be so with me." presented more singular features than that which was associated extraordinary contortions. hurried by. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin it. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while him." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "And what did you see?" after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "Very. But will he see it?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a place no limit on the sum I may draw." when you have done it." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I foot. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "It was a confession," I ejaculated. desk. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "Ha! you find it so?" turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. wedding?" during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'You cannot say what it was?' St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I photograph a cabinet?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, to affect your life." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Where, indeed?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from because she had spent so short a time in this country that she opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "And did you observe any change in her then?" Have you good authority for what you say?" unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave kindly on the shoulder. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily in. "Yes. He waved his hands." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from of note-paper. It read in this fashion: zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. events, Mr. Windibank!" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life "Absolutely?" Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." too. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "I see no marks." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you