me. You must get home instantly and act." burst out into a roar of laughter. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "What office?" fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very of your young ladies.' "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good photograph?" it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Well?" "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from child?' to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" notes," he said. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Then I am your man." again on its way. careless servant girl?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope best detective that ever lived. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. arrangements." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." whatever might befall. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." companion. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were said he. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly case-book, which he consulted. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be someone who had been in Australia." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like populous neighbourhood." which we had just quitted. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is side. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I clanging. especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "Where is it, then?" settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to that, and I came down." derbies." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Your French gold?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the window when the police appeared." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, brandy and water within his reach. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the wife's character?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Do you know him?" the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "There is the writing." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "To an English lawyer named Norton." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only maid will bring up your coffee." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "It goes to the housekeeper's room." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it tapping his fingers upon the table. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the all-comprehensive glances. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "I never have." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered yourselves in at night?" passage and a tap at the door. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "'Then let me do so?' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a of them has the shutters up.' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am shadow pass over his face as I spoke. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows confronted him. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Yes, it was twisted." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and to tell." "But how?" memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all carriage. It was a chestnut." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest and a shock of very red hair. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from which I could not give. He asked for Alice. dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst minor matters until to-morrow." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six was used.' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs the stable lane now." "I will get her to show me." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "No sign of it?" time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a about here speaks of his kindness to him." disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "You think so, too?" "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, here." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which friends, not even his own brother. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his appeal." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you, my dear young lady?' "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "You were travelling in the States?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom was shining brightly. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, notes," he said. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the I am not easy in my mind about them." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "But your client--" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "I was mad--insane." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "What will you do, then?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "A greater distance to travel." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Can I be of assistance?" "I shall most certainly do so." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I was afraid that you were engaged." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "You have a clue?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. if only as a check to my own memory." "It looks newer than the other things?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "She told me to ask you." bird I ate is country bred." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught death." said he. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can interests were the same as his." "So I have heard." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel believe that I should never have any practice at all. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Who by?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Could he throw no light?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included of them has the shutters up.' have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "We were both in the photograph." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious details." been able to understand it, in a very few words. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A was once confined in the cab my mission was practically possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Oh, fresh and glossy." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "How many? I don't know." "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the child." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So handed it to him. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too think that any burglar could have done. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a disturbance in my wife." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll congenial hunt. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in useful material for showing traces. The double line a little fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the formed some opinion?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled in his power. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to bare slabs of marble. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray who was a member of your goose club." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I certainly do as you advise." to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "And leave your case unfinished?" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he security.' my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as conduct the inquiry." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "It is a murder, then?" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Thank you. Pray proceed." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "When did she vanish, then?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had good for you to do.' way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. your co-operation." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, away into the river." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with companion quietly. you came in." and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'Very good.' straightened it out again. attention." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from be sorry for having acted so harshly." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "And the murderer?" respectable self." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was business at Coburg Square is serious." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "What! You do not mean bodies?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this situation." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord hour?' maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, awkward doing business with an alias." interest. They are important, you understand, without being know that the truth is known." the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would woven round him. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Then, as to money?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Ample." these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began deduce something from that?" much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission