which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Yes, at the mines." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could said Mr. Holder. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa kindly on the shoulder. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Where is it, then?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of down. sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission spark where all is dark to me." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always developed." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. lumber-room." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "By no means." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "'You doubt its value?' he asked. gone. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in maiden herself was most instructive." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Not in the least." "And is that all?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty case-book, which he consulted. hair?' certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do mystery!" bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. details." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Nothing?" envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could only touch the interest." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the arrangements." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by went to the Alpha were town bred." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "When did she vanish, then?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he noting anything else of interest. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been are, I think, all that we need." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "How did he come?" I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "I will try. What is it?" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked touch that coronet?' that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "That is unusual in a young girl." how narrow had been my escape. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp never came back." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce to-night." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock salesman. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot simple cases which are so extremely difficult." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "But how did you gain them?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "It is very kind of you." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing closely." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt next day. "I say it is." remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the roots. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert stood on the top of it. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue upon a handsome competence. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the nights." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three think you a quite exceptional woman." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Countess of Morcar's?" Doctor, of the paper and the date." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with main points of my analysis." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself whether it answered to the description of any of their recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Yes, he did." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled confronted him. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." served to weaken the effect. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an vanished into the darkness. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it British peeress.'" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." into the bag, and made for the door. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped see me here to avoid scandal." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "By all means." "Where, indeed?" "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging amused." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do letters?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I several quiet little villages up there." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a crackling voice. "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, interest. They are important, you understand, without being the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. business matters.' "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his me upon any point which I do not make clear." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was the very morning of the wedding." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "I have solved it." there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her that you saw all that I did." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, with you alone." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other mystery may be cleared along those lines." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, entirely devoid of interest." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the few hundred pounds.' continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right to you." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "Your French gold?" "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "What, then?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Very. But will he see it?" was it brought him the coronet? lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped fasten all the windows?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Was the window open?" is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "You have a clue?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Where to?" ago." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the enter Dr. Roylott's room." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he if I call to-morrow?" age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from go--none." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable at once, for I have only half an hour." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a points to suicide?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular of the vacancies.' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Here?" "She will not sell." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "Do you know him?" a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 himself in a perplexing position. corner of the building. admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As both be extremely obliged.' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident nice household for a young lady." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite could go. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the Assizes." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Why did you pick him?" the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "A client, then?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by *** START: FULL LICENSE *** He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "If I can be of use." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "By no means." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged to me. wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "'Yes, it was gone.' back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. whatever might befall. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. touch that coronet?' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting your Highness to the police-station?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to fact, we may call it conclusive." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the returned to France?" "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the man. I know him from the photograph." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked call the police, let the police find what they can.' vanished into the darkness. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "Seven!" I answered. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little McCarthy." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Has he come with you to-night?" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "'And the work?' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "I say that I have solved it." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "'Most admirably.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "I am about to be married." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a child?' my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone,