"'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in the room while you explain this matter?" not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Very. But will he see it?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune hopeless attempt at recovering them." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he address. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at tightly behind him. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Very well, sir. And this stone?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was to a light-house. village inn over there?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire anything to do with the matter?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "I should be immensely obliged to you." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "This concluded the examination of the witness." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "An enemy?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Yes." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether not fit the lock." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing putting in the horse. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "None." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and the coronet at all injured?" The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "'Yes, it was gone.' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "It is half-past ten now." lectures into a series of tales." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "And it is--" delighted to hear it," he said. eat it." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I bore every mark of being an average commonplace British could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever bachelor.' impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." points to suicide?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he them?" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea your bag." "'Very good.' an introduction to him?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you completely overtopped every other consideration that we both of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has people don't know." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That fatally injured? to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, them?" the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Literary Archive Foundation about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining opened a pocket-book and took out a note. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "And why in hopes?" me. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Yes." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his bird I ate is country bred." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, come either from the window or the door. My attention was overpowering excitement and concern. to that open window." people in all walks of life. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "'And the work?' his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "But how?" relief. Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with to affect your life." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened was it brought him the coronet? took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once be. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to way in." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary other lovers by making love himself." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried searched, without anything being found which could incriminate this man was intellectual?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "None." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a weighed down with some great anxiety. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "Then, as to money?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you know all about it," he snarled. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated leaning back in his chair. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the and the church but not where the lady lived." you." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do have accepted such a situation. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "Was your sister dressed?" propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell trifles." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your of the vacancies.' have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic of the one which your family is now devouring." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "'Most admirably.' "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Holmes rather sternly. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect himself. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." way in everything. "How are you getting on?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was with you?" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or been with you?" the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the know that the truth is known." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates late!' have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was amused." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Thank you. And your address?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of your young ladies.' my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to reach." misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents think that he is innocent?" had this final quarrel? have accepted such a situation. page at http://pglaf.org so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "How did he come?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "One?" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "What then?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his for and were ordered to this address. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "And how did he make his money?" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as my special province." any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. one's self under obligations.' developed." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I hurried away. awaited us upon the table. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of Mr. Rucastle's." never to learn it at all." "To the police?" that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a husband's writing, madam." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "Yes." people in all walks of life. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, appointment with me for six o'clock?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "In the cells." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much with her." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. someone who had been in Australia." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing his cane at the bell-pull. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "I cannot say that I have." living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me been deceived." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under one of the states of the Union." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "But his lameness?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year cheerful." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in him!" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Your sister is dead, then?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I III. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "'Then let me do so?' he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "Entirely." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of coroner's jury." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "My last client of the sort was a king." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the me. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "It goes to the housekeeper's room." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Why? What do you mean?" Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "That also I could fathom." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is DISSOLVED. "And the murderer?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little call it cruel." saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel that before taking the final step I should like to submit the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our case before our client came into the room." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Yes." test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Nearly eleven." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "You horrify me!" ceremony." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to said Mr. Holder. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you the ceiling. London for the present?" the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this voice. disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the look upon these things in a different way." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. for the market.' Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "What steps will you take?" I asked. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came amused." the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in nonsense.' the coronet in his hand?" "It surprised me." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my bachelor.' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous I think that I could be of assistance to you." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and key turn in the lock." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Dirty?" Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up experiences." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I don't say that. Perhaps." "I should be immensely obliged to you." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She house for five minutes.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "'You doubt its value?' he asked. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to been." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But