severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their I leave." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "You know me, then?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "In answer to an advertisement." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "And how in the world did you find them?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in was already answered. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If to affect your life." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the envelope. face and glided from the room. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "It is very clear." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once there was no need for father to know." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad "Murdered?" the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "If so, much may have happened between." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, and I shall be with you presently." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia bachelor.' Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the present." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the lectures into a series of tales." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will have an American origin." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I was keenly on my guard against him. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Where to?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I I approached. cause to be." affair. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him lost nothing by them." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he him. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "I would pay ten." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend tell them apart.' hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in stood on the top of it. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just strode off upon his way. drawing your inferences." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. he bowed and left the room without another word. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "He said too much." "Were they all fastened this morning?" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all the Assizes." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the three of the beryls in it, was missing. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It forehead. "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer becomes even more simple." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. never to learn it at all." his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "Ah, but I was recommended to you." to arrive at through this?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Deserted you?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little said he, "my real name is James Ryder." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge questioning and rather startled gaze. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry depend upon your compliance." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "Pray continue your narrative." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great that you can jump it.' steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Come in!" said he. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive locked. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to man. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Indeed! Whose, then?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. for securing the situation." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to flock.' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "But how will you look?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. ceremony." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. with you alone." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "I will try. What is it?" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were you." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" peculiar to him. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir have got?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "But how did you gain them?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, was a perfect sample of the class. months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is mystery may be cleared along those lines." "It is half-past ten now." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would any little problem which you may submit to me." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "I assure you that I am in your hands." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Sutherland?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "And did you observe any change in her then?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to it." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Where is it, then?" before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Street. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H for its centre. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Do you receive much company?" he asked. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said must compliment you." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of evidence," I remarked. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an upon the shelf for the interim." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit Pool. opened the door, and slipped through. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Absolutely?" equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "The murder was done with it." at home. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until to miss it." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "'I have already given you my word.' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was into the bag, and made for the door. "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble once more. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." again, where I was soon asleep. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying Lestrade of Scotland Yard." and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From was not a bird to be seen there. having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each crackling voice. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less are windows in it, of course?" room had already been engaged for us. that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." always that they were such commands as a lady might with garden below. "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old gbnewby@pglaf.org of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City swore that no one else had been in the front room during the again on its way. you found me to-night--and running through the front room she cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt could go. "Absolutely?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the affection." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "What do you make of that, Watson?" these bleak autumnal evenings." against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "You have but to name it." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "That is it on the dressing-table." noting anything else of interest. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, investigation." derbies." cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "What, then, did Peterson do?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Is he quiet?" he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most strong reason behind." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would better grown goose." I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. night.' said he. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "I would pay ten." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure