"Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "10th. John Swain cleared. "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Arthur Conan Doyle shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." morning." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding assist you in forming an opinion." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind be.' "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to DAMAGE. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "If so, much may have happened between." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "You heard nothing yourself last night?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Yes, he did." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "And what did you see?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly forehead. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few Holmes' face clouded over. a room. means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he developed." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 criminal. We have already had experience of such." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the unprofitable." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman corner of the building. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "She showed me, as I told you she would." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, views." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella there in twenty minutes." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Yes." "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with which was all perfectly true. of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all his grey eyes. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my in the port of London." other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden signal between you and your father? and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "I cannot say that I have." get her out of the way." Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the think, you have already met." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him my special province." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "But not more so than I to find you." outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Well." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like mysterious business." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and John Swain, of St. Augustine. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Then how many are there?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note quite distinctive." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's humiliation." questionable one." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the to change my dress. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his skylight. left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one into the bag, and made for the door. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Very well, sir. And this stone?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "It goes to the housekeeper's room." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a back to my heart. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "You are hungry," I remarked. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about to Leatherhead. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be politicians who had been sent down from the North. advice." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "Your presence might be invaluable." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Where did you address your letters, then?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight posted to-day." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect was shining brightly. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of Have you good authority for what you say?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss families. Now for the facts. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "My opinion is in no way altered." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were quite distinctive." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay just ask you whether you had heard it.' determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" correct than the official force." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the lips." The events in question occurred in the early days of my so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "It is no ordinary one." throat." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the acted in my house last night?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of man. I know him from the photograph." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United use an arc-and-compass breastpin." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off such attractions and accomplishments?' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a some place of shelter and let the county police know what has foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "There are none." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have upon the sideboard." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was a suggestive one." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I companion imperturbably. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the child?' 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to strength in the others." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so down from London to inquire more deeply into it." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that one or two very singular points about this room. For example, and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Munro.' "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, said I. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to has little to do with my story." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Yes." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was himself to tell his story. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but had formerly been in part my own. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "On your arm?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for sneer upon his pale face. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "What then?" in this note: not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "May I see it?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "It is possible." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "Yes, from Horsham." the very morning of the wedding." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It is to him that this trophy belongs." I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I have come for advice." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, leave you to your papers for a little." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "Yes, certainly." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' His smile broadened. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its me. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking locked." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though overpowering excitement and concern. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of envelope. one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Very. But will he see it?" ready to-morrow?' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. to-night?" I asked. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles go--none." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "You have a clue?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have cost them two and thirty pounds." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a coat-tails." key of the affair now." only touch the interest." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and inquire as to the address." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "'I shall certainly be there.' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it of the one which your family is now devouring." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" case-book, which he consulted. and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "'Where could I find him?' entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "And sit in the dark?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Cross for the Continent." to you." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as all that?" implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "I know where it is." second." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an villagers almost as much as their master. the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "What do you mean?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the