fashion which was peculiar to him. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "What will you say?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried seven miles from Eyford Station.' before, for it was considerably after midnight. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" made him keep the appointment." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his hour?' Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting occurred." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, held up the lantern and gazed about him. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, fuss that is made over them." "'Ten to two.' of a light. Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Ample." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it fashion which was peculiar to him. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," wedding?" "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "A confidential servant?" parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this depend upon my doing so.' compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "The vanishing of the lady." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "Nothing?" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "An accident, I presume?" came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential and glanced through. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "And how?" and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see you found me to-night--and running through the front room she about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Of what day?" and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any went to the Alpha were town bred." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from dates and names. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, business at Coburg Square is serious." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, lectures into a series of tales." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the in one or two places in England?' coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "It is very kind of you." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "I am to be neutral?" main points of my analysis." absorbing." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while chance." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We other means.' and put his glass in his pocket. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a disturbance in my wife." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the opportunities to fix the problem. His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we individual and becomes the badge of a society." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so new duties?' I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "It may not come to that," said Holmes. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way was already answered. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "And you don't know his address?" cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed emerged. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "So I have heard." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New some city in a dream. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you point in the dark hollow of his hand. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was his huge brown hands. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and to his chemical studies. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of mystery." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I into the room. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "And on what day did he meet his death?" for and were ordered to this address. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big which our visitor detailed to us. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her not within a twentieth part of the market price." "Well?" consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded "My dear Holmes!" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "I am in hopes that she does." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will long narrative. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "But you have hopes?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, together. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were ready to-morrow?' utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "Perfectly so." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I have seen the police." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His completely overtopped every other consideration that we both out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Holmes rather sternly. presented more singular features than that which was associated unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and as the one I chose?' "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another experiences." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Then I shall certainly come." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. stammered. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "None. Neville wrote those words." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so from the brougham. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by empty. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, behind me. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I some mystery and the punishment of some crime." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Certainly." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." are windows in it, of course?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such which we had just quitted. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" "One of his hands." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "But we can't all be." He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond in my life." she to prove their authenticity?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a My friend smiled. His smile broadened. silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept me, and I could not think that his explanation of the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking friend's singular character. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear mystery." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had disappearance of these gems?" watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "I am to be neutral?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Oh, yes, easily." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of there is a decided draught." "Did your wife hear all this?" your own bird, so if you wish--" present strange and interesting features that it is no easy were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two the devil!" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking might have a private word with us. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at I held the little printed slip to the light. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was begun to whiten, even as mine has." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I anything to a woman, for she would have her way." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our like gravel from a pit.' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "Dark enough and sinister enough." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Come in!" said Holmes. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, papers must be those that are destroyed.' recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are information in his hands the value of which he did not himself whereabouts. "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "And sit in the dark?" became a certainty. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get train.' six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up manager. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "May I see it?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the very morning of the wedding." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them are windows in it, of course?" Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed heavily into it. all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She than was visible to me." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was to that open window." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, disappearance of the bride.'" "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "At the wedding breakfast." the Red-headed League." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. where we are going." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "There are none." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Certainly." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "And now?" I asked. "Thank you. Pray proceed." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Seven!" I answered. "Thank you. And your address?" points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us figure." "'How far from the body?' Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "She walked into the breakfast-room." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And you can do nothing until then?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "But his left-handedness." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Holmes' room. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called chamber." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he notes," he said. mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "We must have a cab." "It looks newer than the other things?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Sutherland?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire the roots. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of village inn over there?" has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster What do you deduce from it?" congenial hunt. I was concerned in it." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for pictures, libraries, or plate. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian