"Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as of campaign. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do and a shock of very red hair. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me chair. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I way in everything. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out me." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped the house with me." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, unprofitable." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "Nothing?" and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your populous neighbourhood." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Farm upon the left." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must nonsense.' strange features which were associated with the two crimes which this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" key of the affair now." reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "It was a confession," I ejaculated. mystery." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I came to find a friend." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by key of the affair now." to miss it." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told and it need not interfere very much with one's other begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have spark where all is dark to me." made his money." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Come in!" said Holmes. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his girl said." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger was it brought him the coronet? as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and put his glass in his pocket. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. obstinate." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which fact, we may call it conclusive." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I cannot tell." initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Of what?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been enter into my head. "Frequently." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that such person." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "You horrify me!" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" few hundred pounds.' everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination said he. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old John Swain, of St. Augustine. both be extremely obliged.' "'And the work?' acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "And how did he make his money?" London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "How do you know, then?" attention." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of writing, and yet I know it well." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite in his hands." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she bonnet, and went out." look upon these things in a different way." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should coroner's jury." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper arrested. You then--" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Well, it is a possible supposition." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Again Holmes raved in the air. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "And you don't know his address?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be had formerly been in part my own. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest call for protection in the marriage market, for the present we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any invisible to me," I remarked. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Yes, the wine-cellar." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. relief. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as like that before?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with ago." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Where, indeed?" "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have said I. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you himself. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Then I shall certainly come." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of light and attacked it." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord had picked up in the wood. wall." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." little adventures." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Witness: Nothing definite. "Bought." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "Then I do not see the point." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "Ha! you find it so?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "10th. John Swain cleared. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "But what harm can there be in that?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'Tell me all about it,' said I. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "You'll never persuade me to believe that." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near at my remark. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The once more on the important position which you have been fortunate They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric chemical work which was so dear to him. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that furiously. "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your over his head with a sweet womanly caress. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He meant." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Very much so." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Leadenhall Street--and--" was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. that there was nothing in it, after all." incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to acquaintance?" "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly of the way of danger. certainly do as you advise." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police mystery!" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a tear off another piece?' pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no whether it answered to the description of any of their remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Yes?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I were unconscious?" Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Yes." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now enter Dr. Roylott's room." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "But it has twice been burgled." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my window when the police appeared." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." rat could hardly pass through." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Then I can wait in the next room." "I should be immensely obliged to you." father's place of business?" "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "No, I think that I'll take it." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no detective. one of them." with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. place no limit on the sum I may draw." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' present strange and interesting features that it is no easy writer." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my James Windibank. Voilà tout!" neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "I don't believe it." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Holmes' room. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. once more. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the there." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "What, then, did Peterson do?" that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate hurried away. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon have an American origin." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "He is still with you, I presume?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "I think that it is very probable." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At along the entire front of the house, with three long windows written. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel himself to tell his story. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "And Miss Sutherland?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." again." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the coronet in his hand?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the brandy and water within his reach. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of shall not find me ungrateful." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are will find little credit to be gained out of this case." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Only as much as we can deduce." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the bottom.' Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Witness: Nothing definite. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain The King stared at him in amazement. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" shoulder; "he's all right." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. investigation." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am said Mr. Holder. "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do were unconscious?" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of key of the affair now." new acquaintance to Baker Street. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old friend's singular character. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Won't it ring?" Munro.' than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg what is your own theory as to what took place?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Sutherland. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its not come at once?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective indiscretion." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where quite distinctive." "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Miss Holder?" other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of situation." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and address. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His and wait." others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "You don't mind breaking the law?" whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before