One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "He said too much." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "'Most admirably.' side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "She told me to ask you." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never very peculiar words of the dying woman?" look dissatisfied." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place shaken than I had ever seen him. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction unprecedented a position." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at bachelor.' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, residence of the great financier. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it that you saw all that I did." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "It was." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Yes, he did." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "He slept on the premises." acted in my house last night?" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds sake, don't!" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows I nodded again. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection to me. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he at a side door. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "I was mad--insane." silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "How many? I don't know." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off yourselves in at night?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my made his money." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "About a month then." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is in your London, you will know that the office of the company is asked. across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Then he might have called to you?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I am following you closely," I answered. "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Entirely.' "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Dr. Gregory B. Newby "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "I would pay ten." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was note?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, sooner or later she must fall a victim. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Certainly." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "And what did you see?" to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to past. criminal. We have already had experience of such." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Come in!" said Holmes. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of mysterious business." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended galvanised. insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "But we can't all be." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "He said that you could solve anything." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Do you know him?" utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, matter." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his retorted upon me, and I on you." hand, madam?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." green of the new foliage. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and presume?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at copied or distributed: "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all have been better. It is all right." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes I held the little printed slip to the light. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a front of me. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, whole matter to your consideration." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'Quite sure, dad.' smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." copied or distributed: then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to to some other building. would then never go into court at all." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the best of training." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were digesting their breakfasts at home." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what the station." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Proceed, then." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I was mad--insane." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. corner of the building. telegram would bring me down to your help." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. in the dead of the night?' "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading "Then you may entirely rely on me." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to dates and names. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "I was mad--insane." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and new acquaintance to Baker Street. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how do.' knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the populous neighbourhood." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I room. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is upon a handsome competence. to tell." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "No more words. Get out!" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "No. His orders were to stay in the house." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back happened." strength." companion quietly. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis was shining brightly. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were in a friendly supper." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. she might be summoned. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "But the mystery?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "I think that I had better go, Holmes." Eyford at 11:15.' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning business came to an end." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I was mad--insane." "I will try. What is it?" I shall communicate with you." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "What!" he roared. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Entirely." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the room while you explain this matter?" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I should wish to." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, man. I know him from the photograph." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they go--none." The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at his cane at the bell-pull. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "And how have you succeeded?" heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little never will be, entirely cleared up. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "And you thought he was pulled back?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon round with crates and massive boxes. "I say it is." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" your troubles." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I do." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm writers could invent nothing more crude." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his note?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "But how could you guess what the motive was?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely The summons was a brief and urgent one. would apply.' month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "I see no marks." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." you in your example." set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our she to prove their authenticity?" "I cannot as yet see any connection." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." possible that we could bring him back to her? and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "But how did you gain them?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "No sign of it?" coroner's jury." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his present." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "I think that I had better go, Holmes." reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just and it need not interfere very much with one's other obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for I nodded to show that I had heard. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His beyond words. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could sneer upon his pale face. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, writer." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an be there in time for your coming." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple because she had spent so short a time in this country that she signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he me have 200 pounds?' even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "My opinion is in no way altered." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "No more words. Get out!" "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, The police have openly confessed that they can at present make afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "So I heard. You have him here?" go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." appointment with me for six o'clock?" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "But what is it you wish?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I say that I have solved it." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too chance at all." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned bird I ate is country bred." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the one or two very singular points about this room. For example, by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" disappearance of the bride.'" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that families. Now for the facts. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the your sleep?' disappearance of the bride.'" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front