card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the running down." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are in him." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the devil!" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be question," said Holmes, smiling. isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found tightly behind him. fashion which was peculiar to him. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see observed. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' danger is over." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Mary, has deserted me." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would the south-west, I see." papers must be those that are destroyed.' think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the sound at heart." in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was His name is Francis Prosper." "To an English lawyer named Norton." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "I was mad--insane." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads unclasping of his long thin hands. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." fishes. were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Who by?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "You heard nothing yourself last night?" There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. for its centre. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured hurried by. "It was an hour's good drive." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "You think that he is dead?" cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "If so, much may have happened between." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had grasp, he hurried from the room. "You have carte blanche." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, my former friend and companion. something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "By all means." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, noble correspondent could be. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that you." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and to-morrow." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. Cross for the Continent." has little to do with my story." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "No." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. I nodded again. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "I should like to see him very much." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you and shall probably return to London by the evening train." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked and have this put in the evening papers." London for the present?" simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Leave Paddington by the 11:15." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady them, and came down just as you departed. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Henry Baker is a member." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then was already answered. "In which, sir?" "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy our word." unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "At the wedding breakfast." "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' such attractions and accomplishments?' to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain rose-bushes. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's just ask you whether you had heard it.' "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "A confidential servant?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to client, rising. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the side. to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "And your mother is alive?" dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let presented more singular features than that which was associated last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "And that is--" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the fattened it expressly for you.' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. as this. Pray let me have the details." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." depend upon your compliance." noting anything else of interest. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or keep the flames under. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It I shall continue with my miserable story. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give was keenly on my guard against him. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Precisely so. But how--" companion. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they asked with his eyes open. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Where did you address your letters, then?" "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "You did not overhear what they said?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be a monotonous occupation." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. voice. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. second." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door delirious. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "You heard nothing yourself last night?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This my former friend and companion. against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and other lovers by making love himself." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my in his hands." delighted to hear it," he said. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. vault. your room." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" letters?" "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed and the whole place is in a blaze." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was any." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for your own bird, so if you wish--" off." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "The rest you will leave in our hands." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm charged with?" his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the loss of it. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, them?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my been able to understand it, in a very few words. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the public press." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" as the one I chose?' "That was it, sir." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "The Coroner: What do you mean? whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of there is a decided draught." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She I. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in darkness. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her redistribution. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Yes." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But I am all in the dark." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that pity, because in other respects you would really have done very opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed in him." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I am to be neutral?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a presume?" money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been later, upon the night of May 2nd." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from at my remark. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "And Miss Sutherland?" business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. one's self under obligations.' closely." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "So I heard. You have him here?" horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An showing my impatience. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "It surprised me." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "Then you may entirely rely on me." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the very letters. But what is this written above them?' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "No, my brougham is waiting." in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to you." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "You think so, too?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "And how did you find out?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We the King without delay." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying narrative." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I you give your casting vote to?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just success. "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much your troubles." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen it." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack silent! Oh, he will be silent!' watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and was once confined in the cab my mission was practically public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Not him." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can in a very precise fashion." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional purpose equally well?" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "It is possible." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "Quite so. She has her freedom." bachelor.' "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Munro.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further down in his armchair and closing his eyes. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first shall use the carriage to-night." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "And Irene Adler?" "There is the writing." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up said I. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him views." looking up at the numbers of the houses." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "I am about to be married." me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "That also I could fathom." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to Where does the thing come from?' learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in foresight and the moral retrogression?" have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and to have that photograph." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can