enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded case before our client came into the room." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is you?' "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came unprofitable." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" tell him that I know him to be innocent." her also." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. tail." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend hour?' planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will upon an income of about 60 pounds." new duties?' wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital showing my impatience. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There go--none." "Do you know him?" "An accident, I presume?" closing the door. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," prisoner's face. to me. affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Look there!" said he. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was him nearly every evening." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal long narrative. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little not, dad?" she asked. revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, upon a handsome competence. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can maid will bring up your coffee." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people she has been waylaid. There has been no result." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each it were putty." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow seen the man in the road." directly by questioning you." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. there." "One horse?" interjected Holmes. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged speckled band?" Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see I have it here in my museum." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, is worth.' "But you can know nothing of this?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are such attractions and accomplishments?' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Where did you address your letters, then?" set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "On Monday." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. chemical work which was so dear to him. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Absolutely?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. woman." had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you the armchair which I pushed forward for him. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring unprofitable." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Yes, it was twisted." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the was a loud and authoritative tap. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until it? Did I buy the geese off you?" shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my leave you to your papers for a little." "And the cigar-holder?" "What I expected to see." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." it with his own hands." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't thirty. call for it in person on Monday morning.' laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "I am following you closely," I answered. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "'Certainly,' I answered. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "And I say east," said my patient. same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature of Fenchurch Street." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other affair. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "I will do it." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a way in everything. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in made his money." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All for its centre. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "I assure you that I am in your hands." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a would then never go into court at all." handed it to him. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "In heaven's name, what for?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches when your master had gone out." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall excitement. "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves License. You must require such a user to return or "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "I cannot tell." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Thank you. And your address?" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith "You know me, then?" chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Nothing?" about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Stoke Moran?" said he. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "I am still in the dark." light and attacked it." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view I nodded again. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called closely." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might get the tickets." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of foresight and the moral retrogression?" to his chemical studies. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent said I. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "ARAT," I read. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." posted to-day." exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "Will you bet, then?" to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "And Irene Adler?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in looking up at the numbers of the houses." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others too. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel McCarthy's innocence. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to bell. Holmes whistled. the ceiling. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite nonsense.' but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had Edgeware Road. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "'Yes, it was gone.' police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. to some other building. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have you?' "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. look upon these things in a different way." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this one's self under obligations.' he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly o'clock is it?" "Breckinridge is his name." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently meanly of me." events than those which have happened in my own family." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "What do you mean?" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. During two years I have had three consultations and one small self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "But how?" "What, then?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new hand, madam?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young vault. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "How long did she speak to this Alice?" of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps brought there to personate someone, and the real person is guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. good for you to do.' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a things are very often connected not with the larger but with the Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'It is locked up,' I answered. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce spark where all is dark to me." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure swore that no one else had been in the front room during the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. brandy and water within his reach. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. keep the flames under. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a true." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. at my remark. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case just ask you whether you had heard it.' "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop what do you think they found in the pockets?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking of this gang." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "To an end?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from where Mr. Fordham shows you.' business." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "You heard nothing yourself last night?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'Then let me do so?' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase straightened it out again. and inquire as to the address." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "'You cannot say what it was?' round with crates and massive boxes. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building business at Coburg Square is serious." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were goes." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "I say that I have solved it." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange be sorry for having acted so harshly." round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Dirty?" from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter coroner's jury." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "'About the same.' "Not yet." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but on re-entering her father's house?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to recover the gem." "Precisely so. But how--" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the the Red-headed League." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to keep the flames under. not come at once?" pound a week." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "You don't mind breaking the law?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An hereditary King of Bohemia." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Has he come with you to-night?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my and I shall be with you presently." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "She told me to ask you." said he. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she gone. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Eyford." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got into her hand at the door and which lured her within their developed." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that