vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Sutherland?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible main points of my analysis." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to away in different directions, and I went off to make my own about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," such person." papers must be those that are destroyed.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. individual and becomes the badge of a society." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "It is his hat." "Do you go out much in society?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which papers on the sundial.'" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I hair?' found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the gone before you can get him to hospital." papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed crackling voice. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless matter over." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you highly," said Holmes. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a like gravel from a pit.' King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I cannot imagine." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the this man was intellectual?" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able had no one to advise her at such a crisis." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. open." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the nursery. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me it." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks him!" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a opened the door, and slipped through. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "I was afraid that you were engaged." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had nothing with him." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Mrs. Toller serenely. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in orange pips. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own astonishment. he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the morning and make my own way in the world.' astonishment. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "This photograph!" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as figure." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I think, you have already met." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "I shall most certainly do so." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter ourselves in the office." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper of the vacancies.' with you alone." interest. They are important, you understand, without being so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built gigantic client. and the church but not where the lady lived." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I cannot think." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say interested in these little problems, and since you are good "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for outside." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' security.' prove to be little relation between the different incidents of would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears indeed happy." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "Here?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "And I to find an enemy." The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name are, I think, all that we need." "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case that?' morning." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "Yes, he did." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to DISSOLVED. inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Do you go out much in society?" all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. floor. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the coronet at all injured?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me she used." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a that there was nothing in it, after all." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully 'please.'" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his companion. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, me where it went to?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Does that suggest anything?" his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining present." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback waste of energy." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards conclusions. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." his eyes and forehead. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "9th. McCauley cleared. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Pope's Court. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "What, then, did Peterson do?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to photograph a cabinet?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his during which he might have communicated with his friend the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate derbies." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should writing, and yet I know it well." place of silver." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "It was." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and the church but not where the lady lived." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "But how?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the ventilator." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "But she will refuse." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "The Cedars?" in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. whatever might befall. retorted upon me, and I on you." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "But the mystery?" myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I will, Miss Turner." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that writer." you." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which this unhappy family?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of lost nothing by them." "I am all attention, madam." "But it has twice been burgled." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "'It is locked up,' I answered. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite money should be paid at once.' so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some License. You must require such a user to return or your sleep?' beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'Most admirably.' time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to "And I say east," said my patient. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after breakfast?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little undoubtedly my uncle's." seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Perhaps we may make them less so." observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if heavy and sharp instrument." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "The gentleman I describe." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, of them has the shutters up.' consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "So it appears." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, again on its way. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how Surrey." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been once more on the important position which you have been fortunate how narrow had been my escape. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "Not yet." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Nothing." "What are they?" "It surprised me." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. your troubles." "What can you not understand?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "No." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was learned something! Where are the gems?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had himself to hunt down. definite end. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the loss of it. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "I am still in the dark." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom said he, "my real name is James Ryder." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it several quiet little villages up there." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt bird I ate is country bred." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who amused." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that furiously. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Yes." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Yes." "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the that, and I came down." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only against a man in the prime of life?" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project miles off. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very