"He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and to-morrow." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "It was an hour's good drive." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can where she found matters as described by the last witness. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are front of the hall door has given its name to the place. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the you want, then?' "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, arrangements." "9th. McCauley cleared. "And you don't know his address?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. as the one I chose?' morning." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "He said that you could solve anything." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been even of instruction." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "He said too much." "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "And why?" It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Not social, then?" cost them two and thirty pounds." "That's no good." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left delirious. seen the man in the road." "You have but to name it." of your young ladies.' which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Your French gold?" heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. existence." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered round with crates and massive boxes. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely bachelor.' weary and pale-looking. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers affection." "Stolen." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Very much so." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Certainly." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Very well, sir. And this stone?" occurred." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into beyond words. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. his cane at the bell-pull. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have business." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I have seen the police." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "So I have heard." said I. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "And I to find an enemy." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two speckled band?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, into the room. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "She told me to ask you." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming nights." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in interest. They are important, you understand, without being when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and laid it on the table. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his it with his own hands." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital interested in these little problems, and since you are good wanted for ourselves." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' article?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "What do you mean?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "What office?" "How can you tell that?" table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" whether it answered to the description of any of their fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "But to whom?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "I am to be neutral?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "And I." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "It is very kind of you." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "No. His orders were to stay in the house." must compliment you." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, and capable of preserving a secret.' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. learned something! Where are the gems?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "And your father? Did you tell him?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what enter into my head. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You one or two very singular points about this room. For example, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the orange pips. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "To an end?" connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of and your relations to her." south, for the country is more deserted there." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position your only hope of safety." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "'I have heard so.' many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange is a common subject for conversation. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not not personally threatened." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "But she could not love him." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate as yours." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and trifles." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear purpose of examination. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will companion imperturbably. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, golden eyeglasses. "Not yet." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her the room while you explain this matter?" the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "You were travelling in the States?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before suddenly upon us." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father Holmes' thin, eager face. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "I would give my fortune to have them back." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination felt?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "Certainly." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his into the room. best detective that ever lived. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "From his hat?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Then the page we have seen--" "And how have you succeeded?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts very old mansion. McCarthy's innocence. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Is he quiet?" Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many of this gang." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "'What would be the hours?' I asked. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up business matters.' detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar written, and locked the door of the office after me. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter disappearance of these gems?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through you give your casting vote to?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. leave you to your papers for a little." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Not particularly." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from sparkled upon his finger. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting public press." "Perhaps I have." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "I should be immensely obliged to you." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of constraint." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "You have a clue?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Here?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own keep the flames under. to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the very letters. But what is this written above them?' should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining the coronet in his hand?" collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further an introduction to him?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, paper in the air. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Yes." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in closely." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "To ruin me." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in II. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "'Certainly not. But why?' upon the white wrist. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, such person." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Heh?' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done flock.' affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. sufficient punishment." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the from you?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Perhaps we may make them less so." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of best detective that ever lived. chamber." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as opened a pocket-book and took out a note. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Ah!" house for five minutes.' have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, outside. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Yes, all." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "'Certainly not. But why?' object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "It is a murder, then?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "The Coroner: What do you mean? "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out you understand?" by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." hopeless attempt at recovering them." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in there has been an enclosure here!" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, note?" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner go--none." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." has little to do with my story." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I cannot tell." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil crime. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Then I do not see the point." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't