and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "No, thank goodness, she did not." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only it." and the whole place is in a blaze." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "No, I am descending." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down tapping his fingers upon the table. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very that you can jump it.' thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "'I am sure that I do not know.' creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. key of the affair now." "'I am sure if I had known--' the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. Munro.' great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far heavy and sharp instrument." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Do you receive much company?" he asked. go--none." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by wedding?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow figure." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in his knees, staring into the fire. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" good for you to do.' covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "In answer to an advertisement." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most developed." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "And I say east," said my patient. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings off." populous neighbourhood." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole John Swain, of St. Augustine. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "You have but to name it." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the and no precautions can guard against." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all you." with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the was a lad." down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "At half-wages, in fact." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he never will be, entirely cleared up. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "The rest you will leave in our hands." "Then you may entirely rely on me." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew signal between you and your father? light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Where, then?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said the stones. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the like that before?" daring than any effort of the imagination." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a since then to throw any light upon what became of him." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name sufficient punishment." "Yes." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I beg pardon." becomes even more simple." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the if she died from some sudden fright." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the child." or other trace. But how on earth--" to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "And how?" The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "And who is her maid?" column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks him to go away.' "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "Well, it is a possible supposition." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Perhaps I have." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "He said too much." "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he weigh very heavily upon my conscience." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Project Gutenberg-tm works. "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood during that time.' hair?' there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "She will not sell." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, in the dead of the night?' the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the night.' said he. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to returned to France?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "I have come for advice." gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. opened the door, and slipped through. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for which was all perfectly true. occupations.' will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began breakfast and whispered something to her husband. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes any." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "No." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in do.' as this. Pray let me have the details." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would breakfast and whispered something to her husband. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and four million human beings all jostling each other within the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "It looks newer than the other things?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my our word." developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "In answer to an advertisement." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the coroner's jury." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a His name is Francis Prosper." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out the King without delay." cigar and let me expound." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how not interfere, come what may. You understand?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." ago." "Yes." "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down which it had come upon my father." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by some city in a dream. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "'And what salary do you ask?' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" cause to be." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, opened a pocket-book and took out a note. prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "I came to find a friend." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" woven round him. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on the Assizes." possible that we could bring him back to her? about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I Young McCarthy must be got off, however." you." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have better grown goose." crowd. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "And your father? Did you tell him?" whether it answered to the description of any of their to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does ways of our fellow-men." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of the general public were present, then?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness and the whole place is in a blaze." consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "I have seen the police." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you exactly what you advise." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and together. "And your mother is alive?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's taking in every detail of the apartment. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than face and glided from the room. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a affair. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "What will you do, then?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "It is no ordinary one." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to singular points about the case. What did the police think of the figure." Serpentine Avenue. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the she slowly sank and died without having recovered her when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our which was all perfectly true. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my one's self under obligations.' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at families. Now for the facts. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Count Von Kramm." my room." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the III. "Who was the criminal, then?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming distinguish the words: Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "We have tried and failed." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel present." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of never will be, entirely cleared up. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre before, for it was considerably after midnight. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which