"Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique details should find their way into the papers. Inspector crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "A confidential servant?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits man. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "No, my brougham is waiting." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence man. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the chambers. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to to-night?" I asked. fashion which was peculiar to him. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under instincts rose up against that laugh. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "Her father is very rich?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Well." writers could invent nothing more crude." success. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "But it has twice been burgled." came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to wedding?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how enough to aid us in our search." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed man. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the feature." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this indeed happy." hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I disturbance in my wife." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." for its centre. and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been had a long day." Sholtos." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "My dear Holmes!" Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" said Mr. Holder. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there you understand?" secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "None. Neville wrote those words." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" least a most suspicious remark." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. this poor creature." Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I will try. What is it?" The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "There is the writing." dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite think you a quite exceptional woman." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Nothing?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I later, upon the night of May 2nd." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, bachelor.' return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would dear old homesteads?" "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Yes, he did." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to have that photograph." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project distinguish the words: Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, if I call to-morrow?" and your relations to her." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "'I am sure if I had known--' professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very his wife has ceased to love him." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest definite end. unkempt, staring out at me. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I charge against him will break down." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible to take care of herself." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "'Yes, I promise.' "'Stolen!' he cried. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary even so self-evident a thing as that." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" might help us?" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful went to the Alpha were town bred." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "Not social, then?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler introspective fashion. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him your own bird, so if you wish--" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug sentimental considerations in the background which would induce Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. second window is the one that I jumped from." be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the house for five minutes.' "Well, but China?" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, have an American origin." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the records." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "You are all wrong." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Just look it up, then." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "How long did she speak to this Alice?" property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "'Ample.' perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have business at Coburg Square is serious." Sutherland?" "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my call you and give you the chance." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Holmes' room. "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked business in the City. She little knew what. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property impression behind it as though a window had gently closed speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "But you were on a friendly footing?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "But how did you gain them?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have children over to America with him, so that I found myself without the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving colour had been driven from his face. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern unprofitable." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Thank you. Pray proceed." man. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the three of the beryls in it, was missing. "That is possible." "That is possible." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of mysterious business." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should arrested. You then--" were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "This concluded the examination of the witness." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid Doctor, of the paper and the date." "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' just called myself is not exactly my own." Literary Archive Foundation questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, him to go away.' swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down me what he had done with the three missing stones. the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would in a very precise fashion." "But you can know nothing of this?" upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social think you a quite exceptional woman." was it brought him the coronet? "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon you give your casting vote to?" dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the less than 26s. 4d. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. pound a week." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the to take care of herself." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle forebodings. that he will be back before evening." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of night.' said he. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg status with the IRS. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and leaning back in his chair. corner of the building. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Again Holmes raved in the air. to miss it." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "My last client of the sort was a king." our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" not, dad?" she asked. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'There is a drive, then?' galvanised. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I should wish to." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for that, and I came down." Countess of Morcar's?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "Yes, sir." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Nearly eleven." explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is his wife has ceased to love him." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." lost his Christmas dinner." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "And your father? Did you tell him?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came and that he would see to anything that turned up. Holmes rather sternly. and laid it on the table. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. occupations.' made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. soul! here is her carriage at the door." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" hand, madam?" "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the joking. "How often?" "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled think you a quite exceptional woman." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Precisely." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged here and I will read it to you: seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford you, my dear young lady?' the night.' "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Holmes." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads entirely lost his self-respect." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by confronted him. "I would give my fortune to have them back." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout more terrible than the truth. the morning and make my own way in the world.' more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "But to whom?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the one as in the other." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have prisoner's face. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Bought." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Then how many are there?" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could might help us?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you cheerful." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't will take you up to see the machine.' fashion which was peculiar to him. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "And I say east," said my patient. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Did your wife hear all this?" shall use the carriage to-night." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "I cannot think." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "She will not sell." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his