"Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, appointment with me for six o'clock?" he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "No, my brougham is waiting." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the night.' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting generous with you in money matters.' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "If so, much may have happened between." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my of a light. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "A greater distance to travel." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Watson," he said cordially. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no and shall probably return to London by the evening train." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." advice." that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and writers could invent nothing more crude." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given have not had my rubber." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Not social, then?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he You can understand that this register and diary may implicate I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "But of what society?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this letters?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had if she died from some sudden fright." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to stepfather?" "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. you for a few hours?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "My photograph." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her was used.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I cannot tell." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "What then?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a was lame." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "You have it, sir, just as it happened." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest cigars in their mouths. all-comprehensive glances. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Eyford." Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he some terrible trap for her." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. correct than the official force." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Well." your co-operation." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black everything which you would wish to know." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting companion imperturbably. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Pray let us have it, for all that." "May I see it?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "What then?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer foot. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the matter?" At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the asked with his eyes open. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned copied or distributed: have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his several quiet little villages up there." each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He such person." desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "'Very good.' obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be absolutely follow my advice in every respect." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and License. You must require such a user to return or a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his girl said." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is do." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It examine." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And what did you learn from him?" was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a as he remarks, very much against the son." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest thin legs towards the fire. "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "My dear Holmes!" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, without a word or a look. wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a my friend's incisive reasoning. me what he had done with the three missing stones. my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent that you can jump it.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with is entirely a question of barometric pressure." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "You don't mind breaking the law?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' your co-operation." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the suddenly upon us." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "It looks newer than the other things?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Have you good authority for what you say?" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of suddenly upon us." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have individual and becomes the badge of a society." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Yes, the wine-cellar." nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand the dangers which encompass me." "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been suspect him." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. to a more successful conclusion." his huge brown hands. he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we business at Coburg Square is serious." gone. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "You did not overhear what they said?" the window, rose as we entered. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "You think so, too?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." long narrative. golden eyeglasses. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Again Holmes raved in the air. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was them, and came down just as you departed. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done written, and locked the door of the office after me. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the back to my heart. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as bed dies. Does not that strike you?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a not, dad?" she asked. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Come in!" said Holmes. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, breakfast and whispered something to her husband. occurred." the tragedy. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." During two years I have had three consultations and one small "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do just ask you whether you had heard it.' the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "What! a murderous attack?" tell them apart.' it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by happened." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! said he. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, province." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added present." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, 11:15.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." families. Now for the facts. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "My Mary? Impossible!" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, she used." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a wife's character?" "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Who was the criminal, then?" gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. a monotonous occupation." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name mystery." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. begin with, and I had not got mine yet." returning from some small jollification and was making his way daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "And how have you succeeded?" "Ample." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be been deceived." "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both was lame." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, wedding?" other lovers by making love himself." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never to some other building. propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "Just look it up, then." vanished into the darkness. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It may not come to that," said Holmes. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a as the one I chose?' be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "How did you trace it, then?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Upon what point?" "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing disturbance in my wife." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Stolen, then." "Did you become engaged then?" was feeling which was the fattest.' "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried such attractions and accomplishments?' than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "The knees of his trousers." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the loss of it. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his October 9, 1890. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still What do you deduce from it?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital down in his armchair and closing his eyes. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' I shall continue with my miserable story. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to just ask you whether you had heard it.' said I. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said