country, and eventually married, without anyone having a mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'Certainly,' I answered. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. spark where all is dark to me." "No good news?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and habit of advancing money.' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an look dissatisfied." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step The events in question occurred in the early days of my claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp cause to be." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg your troubles." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Yes, all." "Of what?" floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "But you were on a friendly footing?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There and files of the old papers, following the future career of every they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but joking. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured people in all walks of life. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "But I am all in the dark." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how purpose equally well?" back alive. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "We must have a cab." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been client, rising. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the he. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to compunction about shooting them down." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William that I may have something better before very many minutes are Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with him to be an active member of the medical profession." without a word or a look. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I past. "Then, as to money?" has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "And leave your case unfinished?" trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "My own seal." the coronet at all injured?" a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" me. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Certainly not.' poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he that I am arrested." slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "Then what has happened to him?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off secret." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us I leave." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "A greater distance to travel." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "'I am sure if I had known--' so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "There are none." all-comprehensive glances. could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were a very grave face. the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an him." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds round with crates and massive boxes. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Yes, it would be as well." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second direction." "Yes." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers roused himself from his reverie. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. assist you in forming an opinion." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all true." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so in my life." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw woven round him. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in front of me. upon a handsome competence. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in to-morrow." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was you do it in twenty minutes!' and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. in a friendly supper." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police undoubtedly my uncle's." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." know that the truth is known." come either from the window or the door. My attention was "But we can't all be." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks returning from some small jollification and was making his way 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A overpowering excitement and concern. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was figure." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He examination of the premises, but without finding anything which There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "No." so.' it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in some terrible trap for her." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "I do." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I have seen the police." "Did he not advertise?" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his gentleman's clothes. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic so.' "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "And when will you call?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "How often?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in clanging. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission burst into a hearty fit of laughter. What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a questionable one." advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a fasten all the windows?" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and have had none more fantastic than this." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his ago." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of nights." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an orange pips. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of never came back." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should yards of it?' hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "Nor running a chance of arrest?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "None." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." open." must be when I saw the door open.' "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'Never.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. skylight. "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Here?" short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked pound a week." http://www.gutenberg.net "Very truly yours, Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my to miss it." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Not yet." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the closely." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "Indeed! Whose, then?" sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could empty. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his go from here to the Strand." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Well, but China?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that out of this horrible affair." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I tightly behind him. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "No, but the enclosure is." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the is a common subject for conversation. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." upon the white wrist. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Then you may be so with me." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man not as remarkable as your advertisement." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." I was concerned in it." learned something! Where are the gems?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded green of the new foliage. hour?' "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the him nearly every evening." among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all heavily into it. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid them?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from were unconscious?" "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At him to be an active member of the medical profession." out." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, good-night and bustled off upon her way. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by of." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook your billet.' "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." bachelor.' of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Here?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" the one as in the other." "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "And you don't know his address?" in this way: Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "You saw the ventilator, too?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We purpose of examination. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine use an arc-and-compass breastpin." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but meant it for the best. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back