first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Mary, has deserted me." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "Yes, I have one waiting." what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to gone before you can get him to hospital." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "I should wish to." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and wait." the matter." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I it. stepfather?" "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she that before taking the final step I should like to submit the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'Not at all. I only doubt--' laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'Then let me do so?' IS very morning of my second wedding." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "At the wedding breakfast." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I held up the lantern and gazed about him. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll and it need not interfere very much with one's other my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Cross for the Continent." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." posted to-day." most interesting one." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's could go. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and off." the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Who by?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Absolutely none." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside upon the sideboard." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Why did you beat the pavement?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to man. "I should be immensely obliged to you." "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white chill to my heart. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "How do you know, then?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who these bleak autumnal evenings." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "'It is locked up,' I answered. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the me upon any point which I do not make clear." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him it with his own hands." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just then?" settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand time." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias have had none more fantastic than this." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "How on earth--" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how "And you don't know his address?" "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging hard-headed British jury." "How many? I don't know." "Was there a secret marriage?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your spark where all is dark to me." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "What do you mean?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There everything which you would wish to know." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in crowd. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' experiences." drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban was not a bird to be seen there. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Stoke Moran." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for to-night's adventure." way: successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the acted in my house last night?" What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "My dear Holmes!" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his the best of training." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his that you wished to speak to me?' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" father's place of business?" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he head. So long, then!" finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "You are certainly joking, Holmes." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the station." morning." the dangers which encompass me." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall and the whole place is in a blaze." Holmes' face clouded over. "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "What will you do, then?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I gigantic client. business." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "It's nothing of the kind." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "That's no good." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air less than 26s. 4d. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "When did she vanish, then?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "Has he come with you to-night?" "And when will you call?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this Lee, in the county of Kent." "That was it, sir." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "Yes, certainly." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite himself. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions page at http://pglaf.org guilty one." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other goes." unprecedented a position." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the my former friend and companion. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a down from London to inquire more deeply into it." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was followed. "Seven!" I answered. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, towards the blaze. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of was feeling which was the fattest.' "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went your Highness to the police-station?" was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my his huge brown hands. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the wanted for ourselves." your Highness to the police-station?" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "No?" "And I to find an enemy." "The murder was done with it." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "'Certainly,' I answered. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "To the police?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "How often?" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. asked with his eyes open. infinite languor in his face. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no intrusion of other matters." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, presume?" Leadenhall Street--and--" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "Who by?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," any little problem which you may submit to me." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "'I shall certainly be there.' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Yes, I have one waiting." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. call it cruel." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the I was concerned in it." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may "Ten will be early enough." maiden herself was most instructive." clanging. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "This concluded the examination of the witness." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'Very good.' jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Where to?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He be sorry for having acted so harshly." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few skylight. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Then, as to money?" ashen face. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money for the market.' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a all?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I miles off. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of call for protection in the marriage market, for the present think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Then I shall certainly come." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point is four-and-twenty." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the details." Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten spare." morning." I am not easy in my mind about them." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was new acquaintance to Baker Street. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "But how?" and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of mystery!" chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with gone. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a looking up at the numbers of the houses." in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The hand, madam?" "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "I should like to see him very much." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would This is what he says: neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the particular state visit http://pglaf.org "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "What I expected to see." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who later, upon the night of May 2nd." sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of himself to hunt down. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and laid it on the table. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good not, dad?" she asked. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "I have come for advice." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Stoke Moran?" said he. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "10th. John Swain cleared. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." been lifted and conveyed somewhere." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the Assizes." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "A greater distance to travel." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, tell me that you intended to go into harness." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across which was all perfectly true. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from to affect your life." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your telegram would bring me down to your help." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Then you may entirely rely on me." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can impression behind it as though a window had gently closed singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should any more." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "She walked into the breakfast-room." the coronet in his hand?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "Yes." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "'You cannot say what it was?' "Yes, but only for you and me." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his disappearance of these gems?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed friend's singular character. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. neither fascinating nor artistic." Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." nights." certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with