been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "And what did you learn from him?" foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were empty. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Very much so." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Not I." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque to change my dress. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Lee, in the county of Kent." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked heavily into it. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and exactly what you advise." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture keep the flames under. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" photograph a cabinet?" error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "'And what salary do you ask?' our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and sufficient punishment." and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "No, distinctly professional." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a said I. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "What will you do, then?" edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is see me here to avoid scandal." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the to have been novel and of interest." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman of them has the shutters up.' anything to do with the matter?" ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "'Certainly,' I answered. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should I held the little printed slip to the light. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the The summons was a brief and urgent one. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "But she will refuse." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and presented more singular features than that which was associated "None." strength in the others." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "My opinion is in no way altered." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be them?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "I will, Miss Turner." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Never." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "I don't believe it." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said troubles have been weighing upon his mind. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "One of his hands." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in lamp in his hand. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under introspective fashion. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "And how did he make his money?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, back to my heart. everything which you would wish to know." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "My private note-paper." "'I am sure if I had known--' you, my dear young lady?' "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "That is not always so easy." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, most interesting one." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on attention." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." hands. "Entirely." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Entirely." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, narrative." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in place no limit on the sum I may draw." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before outsides of the windows. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Yes." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done a little more before I quite committed myself. "None." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a had this final quarrel? a suggestive one." not fit the lock." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was despaired of." call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition enter Dr. Roylott's room." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. to Leatherhead. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. letters?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and as noiselessly as she had come. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "The knees of his trousers." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. newspaper selections." said he. Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, best detective that ever lived. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to me where it went to?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the papers." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "But she will refuse." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what from you?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was neither fascinating nor artistic." of them has the shutters up.' "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in if she died from some sudden fright." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "I have come for advice." journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without awaited us upon the table. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a locked." locked. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her future lives." ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, to tell." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "No." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "That also I could fathom." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have whatever might befall. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Nothing?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. were unconscious?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you useful material for showing traces. The double line a little he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "There are none." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears already been minutely examined." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly yet." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "An accident, I presume?" the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the carriage. It was a chestnut." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Nothing?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "We were both in the photograph." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "No, but the enclosure is." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "You have the photograph?" away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and forehead. "Only as much as we can deduce." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second in this way: asked with his eyes open. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in From what you have told me I think that it is possible that laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight will he say when he returns?" "Then you may be so with me." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, any." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion or other trace. But how on earth--" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or roused himself from his reverie. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here directors, with the result that you have seen." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, tell him that I know him to be innocent." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of maiden herself was most instructive." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon congratulate you again." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of this gang." from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not highroad, where all traces were lost. "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both make me his representative both with the servants and with the week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square upon the sideboard." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "But she could not love him." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "It is a murder, then?" discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to wanted for ourselves." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider brought there to personate someone, and the real person is soul! here is her carriage at the door." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent something of him before." village inn over there?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "She will not sell." awaited us upon the table. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. was keenly on my guard against him. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird closing the door. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the sofa. This way, please!" very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this come either from the window or the door. My attention was deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not stepfather?" said Mr. Holder. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both pierced for earrings?" will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Why did you beat the pavement?" it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and examination of the premises, but without finding anything which above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Not yet." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "'Oh, no.' 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his suddenly upon us." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do