the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which a room. return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "I think it very unlikely." forehead. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and late!' Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what that there was nothing in it, after all." papers on the sundial.'" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his morning." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in and the colonel ushered me in. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" and shall probably return to London by the evening train." six. Come in!" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "This photograph!" way: hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad results." and the whole place is in a blaze." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he point in the dark hollow of his hand. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for question. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely of your young ladies.' wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. and I shall be with you presently." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and existence." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Street. of campaign. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Holmes rather sternly. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "My dear Holmes!" not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Very. But will he see it?" then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "Not in a good cause." "What can it mean?" I gasped. room. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My Eyford." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have relief. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "And your mother is alive?" nothing with him." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You think that he is dead?" Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Quite so. She has her freedom." and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a to Leatherhead. "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, depend upon my doing so.' this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Oh, fresh and glossy." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your learned something! Where are the gems?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the both be extremely obliged.' "A client, then?" "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others would apply.' Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "It missed him, then?" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to woven round him. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was note?" the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Does that suggest anything?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "'And what salary do you ask?' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the think that any burglar could have done. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "That you are never beaten." awkward doing business with an alias." suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "'Quite sure, dad.' Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" I leave." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "But it has twice been burgled." "And that is--" have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "And that is--" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. http://www.gutenberg.net overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "And how?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "What office?" attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "And I to find an enemy." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen this Miss Turner." case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from the very letters. But what is this written above them?' fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my not, dad?" she asked. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and searched, without anything being found which could incriminate and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "I came to find a friend." "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried up this clue while it is still hot." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "No, I am descending." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "No legal papers or certificates?" "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" giving me time to thank him. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her details." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "Upon what point?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "You'll never persuade me to believe that." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been held up the lantern and gazed about him. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that definite end. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Literary Archive Foundation front of me. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the brought there to personate someone, and the real person is to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a province." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "You think that he is dead?" results." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I because she had spent so short a time in this country that she past. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in room had already been engaged for us. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Is he quiet?" "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, and the whole place is in a blaze." or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the if only as a check to my own memory." "It missed him, then?" drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when photograph?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, hands. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "No. What a strange idea!" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so into the bag, and made for the door. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab plantation.' It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE thin legs towards the fire. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat soul! here is her carriage at the door." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" chamber." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do other lovers by making love himself." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the letters?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying open." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "Murdered?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been matter." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "'It is locked up,' I answered. cigar and let me expound." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "You are all wrong." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Precisely so. But how--" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "No legal papers or certificates?" come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. morning." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "'Yes, I promise.' upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: himself in a perplexing position. ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Why? What do you mean?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I which it had come upon my father." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "Because he was handy and would come cheap." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." and that he would see to anything that turned up. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. questioning and rather startled gaze. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the chance." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. kind enough to tell me what I should do." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "None." lost his Christmas dinner." his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Yes." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Bought." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of begun to whiten, even as mine has." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A the very letters. But what is this written above them?' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study your only hope of safety." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. his eyes and forehead. however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, only touch the interest." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to there!' "But who is he?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere on in his house." through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden if only as a check to my own memory." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and room had already been engaged for us. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Did you become engaged then?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Miss Holder?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a upon the sideboard." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, points to suicide?" went to the Alpha were town bred." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Holmes' room. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: bird of prey. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain investigation." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, coroner's jury." "That is it on the dressing-table." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's away to you." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I was mad--insane." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Yes, that is the Crown." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "When did it break out?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the that I can to serve you." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As closing the door. "We must have a cab." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid even so self-evident a thing as that." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly Sutherland?"