Lee, in the county of Kent." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a companion. locked. "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this danger is over." during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Yes, only one." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your someone who had been in Australia." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "'Which dealer's?' this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "No more words. Get out!" "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." cigar and let me expound." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "It is possible." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. morning." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. infinite languor in his face. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' there is a decided draught." "And what did you see?" "She told me to ask you." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the I think that I could be of assistance to you." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the room while you explain this matter?" "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to corner of the building. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police woman." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Well." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. not fit the lock." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a your only hope of safety." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would there were so many in the whole country as were brought together hair?' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Yes." guilty parties." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "You saw the ventilator, too?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you answer." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all you give your casting vote to?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I never have." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into made his money." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "No, finished." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Can I be of assistance?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to anything to do with the matter?" speckled band?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "What are they?" them present such singular features as the strange train of charge against him will break down." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution Chief Executive and Director Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream least a most suspicious remark." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was spark where all is dark to me." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Game for a morning drive?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "'Certainly,' I answered. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help sentimental considerations in the background which would induce Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending tail." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "An accident, I presume?" and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "'No, I know no one in these parts.' Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. to a light-house. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Thank you. Pray proceed." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "'And what are they worth?' I asked. back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "I was afraid that you were engaged." I nodded again. "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin Arthur Conan Doyle of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually you give your casting vote to?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Breckinridge is his name." a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying fattened it expressly for you.' pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after congratulate you again." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Quite so." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a which I could not give. He asked for Alice. truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that beg that you will break it off." "I am about to be married." managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money words came to my lips. The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. is now desirous of getting those letters back." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same way in." murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further instincts rose up against that laugh. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Texas, I think." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of look dissatisfied." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. not within a twentieth part of the market price." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner entirely devoid of interest." "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." tightly behind him. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely geese which you supplied to the Alpha." I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Mary, has deserted me." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of that you wished to speak to me?' is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Will you bet, then?" excitement. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and wedding?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Holmes rather sternly. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in have been better. It is all right." have one." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Nothing." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Certainly, madam." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "'Quite sure, dad.' over here." may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was rose-bushes. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of digesting their breakfasts at home." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a them?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a ago." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, instincts rose up against that laugh. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "I am following you closely," I answered. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last if only as a check to my own memory." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Can I be of assistance?" the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. society." you." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry fattened it expressly for you.' "But how will you look?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally not as remarkable as your advertisement." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the pictures, libraries, or plate. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up During two years I have had three consultations and one small "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. emerged. "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by observed. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "I see no marks." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been I am not easy in my mind about them." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found hair?' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to became a certainty. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its guilty one." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Then I am your man." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until chill to my heart. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Well, it is a possible supposition." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to without a word or a look. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most himself. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind in my life." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "I beg pardon." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I passage and a tap at the door. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite highroad, where all traces were lost. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of redistribution. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with public press." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, attention." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing had formerly been in part my own. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "How do you know, then?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass six. Come in!" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the your Highness to the police-station?" "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "I assure you that I am in your hands." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a furiously. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an if she died from some sudden fright." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Absolutely?" done what I asked you, Jones?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "The King of Scandinavia." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" will he say when he returns?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of sufficient punishment." once more. "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire it with his own hands." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; for securing the situation." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Then I am your man." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "Well, some hundreds of times." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." he bowed and left the room without another word. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' way in everything. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very upon the white wrist. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he becomes even more simple." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" more terrible than the truth. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Very. But will he see it?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Of Friday, June 19th." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham the room while you explain this matter?" her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until comes from the middle window." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. IS He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Leadenhall Street--and--" "I have come for advice." off."