interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "'What then?' I asked. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself seven miles from Eyford Station.' just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "He might." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should telegram would bring me down to your help." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'Stolen!' he cried. child?' rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Really! You surprise me." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "How many? I don't know." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the yourselves in at night?" go back?" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little tension within him. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him helping a boy to put up the shutters. convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which than to us. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. wanted for ourselves." week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "And sit in the dark?" "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until you found me to-night--and running through the front room she touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "In heaven's name, what for?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "I was afraid that you were engaged." so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight politicians who had been sent down from the North. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin be.' prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. ourselves in the office." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in But Holmes shook his head gravely. see a sister of mine apply for." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then little adventures." 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that what do you think they found in the pockets?" at home. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "Which are?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it nonsense.' nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one envelope. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet business at Coburg Square is serious." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition both be extremely obliged.' "The murder was done with it." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Well?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "And how?" "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put thought that she would have been so carried away." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "In what way?" asked Holmes. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran crowd. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and already been minutely examined." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "You saw the ventilator, too?" and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of developed." key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "No, I had a dozen." "One?" "And when will you call?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "'Quite sure, dad.' thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. looking up at the numbers of the houses." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Yes." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "Absolutely?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots thirty. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell highly," said Holmes. "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the arrangements." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear You can understand that this register and diary may implicate labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is if she died from some sudden fright." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I in one or two places in England?' ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the better in every way that they should make their position a little favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that emerged. I. "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried the matter?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, written. "And how did he make his money?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not for and were ordered to this address. outside. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his that, and I came down." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we ashen face. opportunities to fix the problem. coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman cheerful." "Precisely." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "My stepfather's business papers." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and retorted upon me, and I on you." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a tail." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "From his hat?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but desk. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have late." "'Where to?' my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some neither fascinating nor artistic." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great lumber-room." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of what is your own theory as to what took place?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Certainly, madam." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you newspaper selections." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how helping a boy to put up the shutters. with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to about. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my was a lad." letters?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the bed, and you in that chair." you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the chambers. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "Ah!" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my open." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Does that suggest anything?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came gone before you can get him to hospital." "I am still in the dark." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Pray do so." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are fact, we may call it conclusive." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "By train from Waterloo." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Munro.' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' hour?' was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until events than those which have happened in my own family." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "It missed him, then?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "You have but to name it." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you success. little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "He said that you could solve anything." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one Sutherland?" "So I am. Very much so." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "You have a clue?" either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first is now desirous of getting those letters back." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of "And I to find an enemy." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on carriage. It was a chestnut." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We annoyance, but no jest. "And you thought he was pulled back?" "One of his hands." "'Where could I find him?' "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" to his chemical studies. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to her also." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, the stable lane now." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "A client, then?" geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so plantation.' "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to main points of my analysis." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet leaning back in his chair. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing whereabouts. "It missed him, then?" "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices