knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been your co-operation." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in front of me. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. bled considerably." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Holmes, the busybody!" John Swain, of St. Augustine. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and corner of the building. "Why? What do you mean?" across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low round and wave him away like that.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "You have it, sir, just as it happened." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to go from here to the Strand." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I who was a member of your goose club." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I photograph?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards confronted him. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and never to learn it at all." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for I shall communicate with you." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a the coronet at all injured?" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they waste of energy." "Look there!" said he. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you you in yours." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 the room while you explain this matter?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something forebodings. "You are hungry," I remarked. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which James Windibank. Voilà tout!" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "I have a cab outside." suddenly upon us." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." drove away. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote late." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a morning." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning your only hope of safety." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; nonsense.' was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "Certainly, madam." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Two days later this same performance was gone through under have I gained?" "Who was the criminal, then?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Holmes." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror confronted him. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no http://gutenberg.net/license). observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give directors have had misgivings upon the subject." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I am still in the dark." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Quite so." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to one of the states of the Union." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, colonel looking down at me. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon handed it to him. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from place of silver." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Dr. Becher's." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in what do you think they found in the pockets?" attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel amused." father's place of business?" beyond words. drawing your inferences." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "You horrify me!" inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a disappearance of these gems?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We enough to aid us in our search." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought heavily into it. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was purpose equally well?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched photograph?" been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "You'll never persuade me to believe that." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful the King without delay." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had tapping his fingers upon the table. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her populous neighbourhood." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Yes, all." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. case before our client came into the room." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a business." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, instituted." my secret was safe in his possession. "A call for help, you thought?" their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "No." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "And from a noble client?" said he. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It goes to the housekeeper's room." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from congenial hunt. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never sit on the left-hand side of the driver." concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The over his head with a sweet womanly caress. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." experiences." unprecedented a position." his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." some water from a caraffe. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for in my life." less than 26s. 4d. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my at a side door. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "It is half-past ten now." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope States. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Then what has happened to him?" "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to time." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully wedding?" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk weigh very heavily upon my conscience." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and sake, don't!" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Not in the least." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "I say it is." "Yes, it would be as well." if she died from some sudden fright." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of you in yours." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Murdered?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "The landlord of the Alpha." connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "It was an hour's good drive." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "We were both in the photograph." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, hour." "'And what salary do you ask?' examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." maid will bring up your coffee." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I am following you closely," I answered. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a key of the affair now." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "That is not always so easy." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "How can you tell that?" get the tickets." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been lectures into a series of tales." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he room had already been engaged for us. the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing away to you." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the asked with his eyes open. of your young ladies.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and was a lad." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Of Friday, June 19th." away to you." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "In which, sir?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Project Gutenberg-tm works. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Precisely so. But how--" the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "10th. John Swain cleared. the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." arrangements." "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "No." whatever might befall. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a brain must have something in it." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Then how many are there?" solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had became a certainty. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, sneer upon his pale face. "Just look it up, then." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, suddenly upon us." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be The events in question occurred in the early days of my knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I other means.' when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "About a month then." this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any had picked up in the wood. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "But he might be a bachelor." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs went to the Alpha were town bred." engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "And your father? Did you tell him?" Heh?' brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could