been deceived." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray to arrive at through this?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked 1.F. back into the street. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and and laid it on the table. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge records." "'You cannot say what it was?' down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for more terrible than the truth. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion note?" with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let "Precisely." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only returning from some small jollification and was making his way week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the think, you have already met." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, used to be." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "In answer to an advertisement." convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in out." "Ample." voice. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was fact, we may call it conclusive." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the fashion which was peculiar to him. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither appeal." "Pray do so." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the emerged. This is what he says: "'You cannot say what it was?' drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the infinite languor in his face. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his the one as in the other." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' of your young ladies.' "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "'Certainly,' I answered. 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and no precautions can guard against." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but I nodded again. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had arms and began to sob in a high treble key. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I cannot think." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my house for five minutes.' instituted." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger your bag." shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It been shamefully used." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'I have already given you my word.' impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will persecution?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the stable lane now." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. guilty parties." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly to take care of herself." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different little adventures." "And how did you verify them?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled passage and a tap at the door. "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for not within a twentieth part of the market price." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Pray do so." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement our word." his eyes and forehead. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Stolen." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so but preventing her from injuring another. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the existence." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned hard-headed British jury." refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing his cane at the bell-pull. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "An enemy?" "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found cigar and let me expound." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton train.' obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots them, and came down just as you departed. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, have I gained?" and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He orange pips. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely would apply.' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "I cannot imagine." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to nonsense.' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "And how did you verify them?" Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "The King of Scandinavia." "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet do you make of it all?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." father's young wife. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss society." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect distance from the station, and there we found the young lady them present such singular features as the strange train of row." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their way: photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled remarked. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his or in danger--" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began bed dies. Does not that strike you?" were wasted." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to writing, and yet I know it well." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found upon the sideboard." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "What! Had he lost his wife?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Tired-looking or fresh?" why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Ah!" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story memory. attention." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "I cannot think." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. me upon any point which I do not make clear." "How do you know, then?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "I have seen the police." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Of what?" "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where beg that you will break it off." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess Eyford at 11:15.' of the way of danger. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on my special province." this as likely?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had over part of the map. "What do you read?" Sutherland. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. him to go away.' "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "It's nothing of the kind." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Can I be of assistance?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must clanging. "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "At the wedding breakfast." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' returned to France?" first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms humiliation." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was is so. I know all about McCarthy." which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods most important business. It is probable that he will be away all Clair, of Lee." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "But you can know nothing of this?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable giving me time to thank him. furiously. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Edgeware Road. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY 1.F. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' habit of advancing money.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time some mystery and the punishment of some crime." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied fashion which was peculiar to him. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite main points of my analysis." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the outbreak?" now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of I took the paper from him and read as follows: lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it shall not find me ungrateful." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." would apply.' gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "And who is her maid?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "How did that help you?" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be his cane at the bell-pull. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "At what time?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I have got?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly the matter." dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "I have seen the police." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "My stepfather's business papers." the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a me. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural child?' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so thin legs towards the fire. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to been deceived." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church and inquire as to the address." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, wife's character?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "You will not go there first?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "Yes." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. a good hundred miles off by now." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small good for you to do.' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my "Yes. He waved his hands." "You have compromised yourself seriously." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. morning." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we been with you?" whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return from you?" "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest business." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances.