return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire clang of the bell. red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon of fine shops and stately business premises that they really though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw sufficient punishment." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "Frequently." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining it with his own hands." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly him nearly every evening." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Certainly, madam." as yours." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even Holmes' face clouded over. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you is worth.' Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "Yes, but only for you and me." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Precisely." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "What then?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every comes from the middle window." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Nothing?" which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Why did you beat the pavement?" "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be legal crime." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his of receipt of the work. his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Do you receive much company?" he asked. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away I have it here in my museum." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a noble correspondent could be. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second http://www.gutenberg.net "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but when your master had gone out." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "And Irene Adler?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad where we are going." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my useful material for showing traces. The double line a little the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in them?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his congratulate you again." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." bears upon the case?" "And how in the world did you find them?" "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Pray continue your narrative." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "A greater distance to travel." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, the best of training." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The strange features which were associated with the two crimes which enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Your presence might be invaluable." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the round with crates and massive boxes. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some of." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "'I am sure that I do not know.' England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord as noiselessly as she had come. in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman sofa. This way, please!" "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, delirious. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a out." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of it." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. made his money." question. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and client, rising. of this gang." "Texas, I think." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "I guessed as much." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought drawing your inferences." the inquest, and which are worth considering." papers on the sundial.'" impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible bed dies. Does not that strike you?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "And it is--" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on touch that coronet?' the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who it? Did I buy the geese off you?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been evidence," I remarked. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "9th. McCauley cleared. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured do.' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the appeal." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon closely." Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "No sign of it?" hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his know that the truth is known." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Really! You surprise me." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. them, and came down just as you departed. "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a should be taken.' "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Surrey." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "My dear Holmes!" "Holmes, the busybody!" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "Then I shall certainly come." redistribution. you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at ran thus: your bag." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Serpentine Avenue. woven round him. or in danger--" mystery!" at a side door. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "I am sure." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, place of silver." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "To ruin me." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Lestrade of Scotland Yard." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the crowd. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Has he come with you to-night?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." there has been an enclosure here!" "Why did you pick him?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. meanly of me." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." of a light. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you 'please.'" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "What, then?" compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I upon the sideboard." coroner's jury." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the was a loud and authoritative tap. "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "It certainly sounds feasible." the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and crime." these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed like gravel from a pit.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the of the efforts of the United States government and of the better and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You are certainly joking, Holmes." I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" of it with the greatest attention. "How did he come?" yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with like that before?" without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the window, rose as we entered. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Holmes' thin, eager face. could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Yes, but only for you and me." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" system of imprisonment?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." one of them." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when do.' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I showing my impatience. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this to have that photograph." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying