southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and who was a member of your goose club." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Witness: Nothing definite. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "I should wish to." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside compunction about shooting them down." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "He disappeared so suddenly." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Tired-looking or fresh?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he is four-and-twenty." head. So long, then!" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "The Cedars?" "Pray do so." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "None." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided call for protection in the marriage market, for the present to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship good-night and bustled off upon her way. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "It looks newer than the other things?" "Where, indeed?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "Stoke Moran?" said he. this poor creature." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." easy-going way." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," shoulder; "he's all right." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, there were one or two details which were new to me. But the fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Pope's Court, Fleet Street." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Then the page we have seen--" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Pray tell us what has happened to you." with the outside air!" "Texas, I think." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "But who is he?" thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return father's young wife. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "You heard nothing yourself last night?" possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, my little problems." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "So it appears." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Yes, I have one waiting." villagers almost as much as their master. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he one of them." man. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first suspect him." "Did you become engaged then?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By present." in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning empty. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite From what you have told me I think that it is possible that desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent correct than the official force." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. mysterious end." her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "I was certainly surprised to find you there." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of our word." "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "And Irene Adler?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London that threaten you." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which directly by questioning you." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "I cannot say that I have." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "No, thank goodness, she did not." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it unclasping of his long thin hands. "Can I be of assistance?" do.' and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "'Where to?' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated indeed happy." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "'What do you call purely nominal?' we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Holmes' room. fishes. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money fluttered off among the others. a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Where, then, is my wife?" that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "We must have a cab." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Very much so." delighted to hear it," he said. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no ways of our fellow-men." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his three of the beryls in it, was missing. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "If so, much may have happened between." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw room had already been engaged for us. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, that he will be back before evening." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate status with the IRS. companion quietly. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that said he. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" problems help me to do so." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you ordinary clothes on?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "'And the work?' office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of all?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "That is not always so easy." "Then I shall certainly come." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "None. Neville wrote those words." walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "I am in hopes that she does." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which happened." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "What! You do not mean bodies?" pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his deduce something from that?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the relief. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "Stolen, then." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Yes, sir." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was Farm upon the left." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come nights." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy advice." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford done what I asked you, Jones?" in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have you do it in twenty minutes!' rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view of a light. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain conduct the inquiry." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "Breckinridge is his name." "It is possible." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in the window, rose as we entered. went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should http://www.gutenberg.net headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very important." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' I nodded again. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an soul! here is her carriage at the door." society." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." would then never go into court at all." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is brandy and water within his reach. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "Yes, from Horsham." said he. and a shock of very red hair. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will for securing the situation." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the my special province." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his was used.' have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and wanted for ourselves." "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael the Friday. Was it to be in church?" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense said I. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, will be renamed. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net chamber." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I would pay ten." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who already referred to. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There You want to know what became of those geese?" was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to business matters.' of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears was used.' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "But you were on a friendly footing?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was his forehead." your billet.' need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing instituted." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "And how have you succeeded?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "'I shall certainly be there.' everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and you want, then?' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of read over the extraordinary announcement. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been intrusion of other matters." The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief learned something! Where are the gems?" "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of