There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "What I expected to see." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of man. flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "That is it on the dressing-table." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may later, upon the night of May 2nd." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when woman who has had her own way to make in the world. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The mystery." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, woven round him. "The murder was done with it." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "I should be immensely obliged to you." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Then, as to money?" had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. "You horrify me!" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "None." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his and looked back. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer forehead. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by in the dead of the night?' "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Deserted you?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local for its centre. "I cannot imagine." the very morning of the wedding." "'Yes, it was gone.' "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Well, some hundreds of times." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "And what then?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I am about to be married." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, in his hands." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made chair. I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "I am all attention, madam." "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, appeared upon the scene." where we are going." "It is very kind of you." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Mrs. Toller serenely. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "That is not always so easy." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. all?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by never to learn it at all." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." will be renamed. this man was intellectual?" should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything had formerly been in part my own. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came conclusions. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "Awake, Watson?" he asked. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "I cannot tell." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were bonnet, and went out." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective you in yours." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Who was the criminal, then?" and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, fear." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her me upon any point which I do not make clear." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was be there in time for your coming." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "Entirely." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard already been minutely examined." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Holmes' room. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up is a common subject for conversation. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it had this final quarrel? flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in sake, don't!" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "She showed me, as I told you she would." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. But Holmes shook his head gravely. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "What will you say?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Well, it is a possible supposition." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Well." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my companion imperturbably. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our fait accompli?" "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an speckled band?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "An accident, I presume?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a to tackle the facts." outbreak?" The King stared at him in amazement. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my indeed happy." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "'Where to?' exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the I shall continue with my miserable story. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of what do you think they found in the pockets?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the Assizes." fait accompli?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my their singular warning or token before them when starting upon of the vacancies.' do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his a very grave face. better grown goose." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "That is possible." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Always." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "That sounds a little paradoxical." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "I came to find a friend." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Where does the thing come from?' I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which I shall continue with my miserable story. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Holmes' face clouded over. south, for the country is more deserted there." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' footfalls from the street. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Thank you. And your address?" Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "'Certainly not.' walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "'Which dealer's?' for the market.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "To an English lawyer named Norton." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Ah!" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" read over the extraordinary announcement. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, door?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I ready to-morrow?' to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "If I can be of use." indiscretion." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, shall not find me ungrateful." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems forecastle of an emigrant ship. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Pray let us have it, for all that." Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her papers on the sundial.'" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Never to return." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "The knees of his trousers." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They London for the present?" brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into leaning back in his chair. presume?" in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "And I to find an enemy." away into the river." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have happened." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "'Where could I find him?' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked not use it unless it is absolutely needed." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the bell. Holmes whistled. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Not yet." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small despair." help us in this matter." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored that there was nothing in it, after all." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did lumber-room." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the held up the lantern and gazed about him. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and fatally injured? homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Frequently." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and suddenly upon us." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to this man was intellectual?" tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are the house with me." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "What can you not understand?" "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if not, dad?" she asked. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the gives a meaning to it." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Because he was handy and would come cheap." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after the coronet in his hands?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll over his head with a sweet womanly caress. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "Nor running a chance of arrest?" considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and to tell." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin events than those which have happened in my own family." "It was." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another man. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Can I be of assistance?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "'No, I know no one in these parts.' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had examine." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "I shall most certainly do so." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' row." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her the general public were present, then?" trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "But it has twice been burgled." time." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune note?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "What is it?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Yes?" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good closing the door. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is pictures, libraries, or plate. air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose Count Von Kramm." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "The doctor?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not during which he might have communicated with his friend the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the in the port of London." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "One?" As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John had died away into the silence from which it rose. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down been with you?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "We were both in the photograph." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "In what way?" asked Holmes. "Not in a good cause." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "'Yes.' re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the