compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon do you make of it all?" not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very it? Did I buy the geese off you?" us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "No, finished." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'Then let me do so?' problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. call you and give you the chance." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked second." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Could he throw no light?" brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled himself to tell his story. He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." Holmes." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as the so-precious time, but come!' been anything against him. He had for years been known as a both be extremely obliged.' dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "If I can be of use." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Very good.' beg that you will break it off." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, families. Now for the facts. he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "Get out!" said he. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was arrangements." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle green of the new foliage. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found for the market.' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out go from here to the Strand." most interesting one." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and character. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I strength." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were I held the little printed slip to the light. "'Is purely nominal.' "I am armed." "Well?" "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. once more to my work. labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to the inquest, and which are worth considering." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them waste of energy." address. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "At half-wages, in fact." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is up this clue while it is still hot." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in obstinate." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I have it here in my museum." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly forecastle of an emigrant ship. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "I was mad--insane." she to prove their authenticity?" day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a nothing with him." "Really! You surprise me." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be there is a decided draught." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again fat-encircled eyes. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones in my life." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us of the efforts of the United States government and of the better It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "So I have heard." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a posted to-day." "Ample." Count Von Kramm." shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came about. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as sofa. This way, please!" "Yes." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of his huge brown hands. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "That was it, sir." the window, rose as we entered. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "The landlord of the Alpha." "Always." sufficient punishment." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "No, I am descending." conduct the inquiry." "You horrify me." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not vanished into the darkness. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't upon an income of about 60 pounds." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay instincts rose up against that laugh. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously Eyford." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing throat." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE the inner apartment." views." the morning and make my own way in the world.' once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand province." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, careless servant girl?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under call you and give you the chance." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "The rest you will leave in our hands." "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "They are typewritten," I remarked. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, 'I should be able to look after that for you.' given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which you, my dear young lady?' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "And did you observe any change in her then?" wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in what these perils are?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Here?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a are, and they are waiting for us." "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in do you make of it all?" there is a decided draught." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. made him keep the appointment." murdered man." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "It is very kind of you." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." the date of his supposed suicide." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "No, distinctly professional." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few used to be." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for situation." the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Clair, of Lee." bill, which interests me deeply." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and Serpentine Avenue. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left you in your example." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every villagers almost as much as their master. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose taking in every detail of the apartment. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is down. lamp. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "At what time?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "'And what are they worth?' I asked. on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "The best possible." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in never will be, entirely cleared up. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go and the colonel ushered me in. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took The King stared at him in amazement. "I assure you that I am in your hands." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the coronet in his hands?" "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout forbidden door. which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "'Yes, sir.' stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all carpenter." "Dirty?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter it. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And how did you find out?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. him nearly every evening." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my there is a decided draught." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a dates and names. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The laugh and put his lips to my ear. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send them, and came down just as you departed. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could union?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "Perhaps we may make them less so." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "I cannot imagine." words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to one else, I think." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four late." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "'I am sure if I had known--' stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "There is the writing." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Entirely." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "And how did you find out?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "But she will refuse." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I where she found matters as described by the last witness. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some meant." company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'Where could I find him?' "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then window when the police appeared." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. to tackle the facts." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock enter into my head. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I fear not." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire horse could go." annoyance, but no jest. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, you." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems down in his armchair and closing his eyes. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "So I heard. You have him here?" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing said he. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at which our visitor detailed to us. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Count Von Kramm." matters immensely." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us help us in this matter." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "I know where it is." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a 1.F. it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "If I can be of use."