retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, very morning of my second wedding." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He night.' said he. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is forehead. pressing in one house as in another. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." which it had come upon my father." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train sooner or later she must fall a victim. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "'What then?' I asked. "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "'Is purely nominal.' "Then how many are there?" dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his some water from a caraffe. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw http://gutenberg.net/license). so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was purpose equally well?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "And why in hopes?" individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic mystery." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "None. Neville wrote those words." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That despaired of." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the main points of my analysis." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked a very grave face. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "I don't say that. Perhaps." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and matter over." as he folded up the epistle. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, the warnings." "What?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their the address that was given us in the advertisement. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "How on earth--" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Proceed, then." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I which we had just quitted. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss later, upon the night of May 2nd." entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with will take you up to see the machine.' instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Was your sister dressed?" matter." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! anything to a woman, for she would have her way." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a ago." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added miles off. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling fact, we may call it conclusive." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for humiliation." "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be really the only notable feature about the thing." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely despair." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Count Von Kramm." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was acted in my house last night?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from would apply.' sofa. This way, please!" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "My photograph." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without forecastle of an emigrant ship. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "By train from Waterloo." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Never." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say a suggestive one." in the hope of finding them." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will feature." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to go from here to the Strand." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "Has he come with you to-night?" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I should be immensely obliged to you." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Yes, sir." window when the police appeared." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." asked with his eyes open. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "And you thought he was pulled back?" on re-entering her father's house?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, society." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the running down." "Were they all fastened this morning?" lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "The vanishing of the lady." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "There is the writing." those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "'Entirely.' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "A client, then?" is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "And I to find an enemy." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "One of the highest in England." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." felt the room to be a little close.' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'Then let me do so?' "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that man. noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Pool. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away morning." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "I am to be neutral?" attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Well?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his of the efforts of the United States government and of the better its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled answer." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "But you were on a friendly footing?" work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which then?" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. colour had been driven from his face. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker train.' abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the death." "'What are you doing there?' he asked. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, to have that photograph." look upon these things in a different way." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing you." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was unclasping of his long thin hands. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read asked. down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting carried out of court." "Ha! you find it so?" saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in light and attacked it." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's our word." questioning and rather startled gaze. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of have been better. It is all right." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "Pray do so." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Precisely." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper that threaten you." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when yet." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Murdered?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "'It is locked up,' I answered. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is you for a few hours?" or in danger--" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the pound a week." as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Yes, from Horsham." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De straightened it out again. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "You have compromised yourself seriously." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Of what?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "What, then?" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment should be so warm over such a trifle." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his fat-encircled eyes. get her out of the way." 1.F. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible bedroom door." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It how narrow had been my escape. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began fluttered off among the others. 11:15.' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "'Tell me all about it,' said I. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior and put his glass in his pocket. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I other means.' request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is upon the shelf for the interim." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. again before evening." the very letters. But what is this written above them?' Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was not, dad?" she asked. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included fattened it expressly for you.' case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." not within a twentieth part of the market price." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. License. You must require such a user to return or "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "My own seal." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed and looked back. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Frequently." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of and files of the old papers, following the future career of every thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough made him keep the appointment." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Not in the least." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "You were travelling in the States?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the the address that was given us in the advertisement. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." My friend smiled. "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "'There is a drive, then?' As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. congenial hunt. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with clanging. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded visitors." she to prove their authenticity?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I assure you that I am in your hands." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "It is half-past ten now." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "No, my brougham is waiting." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from held up the lantern and gazed about him. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of