to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "Quite so." erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save John Swain, of St. Augustine. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of notes," he said. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be ourselves in the office." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Was she in good spirits?" "And what did you learn from him?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "When did it break out?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its What do you deduce from it?" although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town matter." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you one or two very singular points about this room. For example, felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two whether it answered to the description of any of their there were so many in the whole country as were brought together to tell." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the dear old homesteads?" case-book, which he consulted. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. results." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the dates and names. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Awake, Watson?" he asked. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." new acquaintance to Baker Street. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the forbidden door. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you to arrive at through this?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open little adventures." "Witness: I must still refuse. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came client, rising. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a on re-entering her father's house?" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two of note-paper. It read in this fashion: The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "A client, then?" McCarthy." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I situation." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they public press." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "And I." in him." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of know what is wrong with it.' absolutely follow my advice in every respect." said he. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about true." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might prison!" three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "That is it on the dressing-table." It may be so in this case, also." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with your billet.' recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "No, my brougham is waiting." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed was a loud and authoritative tap. McCarthy's innocence. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely present." meant it for the best. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and and a shock of very red hair. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "'Ten to two.' week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy begin with, and I had not got mine yet." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck to a light-house. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I golden eyeglasses. Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into I took the paper from him and read as follows: derbies." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you I took the paper from him and read as follows: "No, but the enclosure is." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to It was close upon four before the door opened, and a downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "I am about to be married." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my 'please.'" my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the companion quietly. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never I am not easy in my mind about them." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a you." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Edgeware Road. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy as the one I chose?' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Quite so." be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be felt?" rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Stoke Moran?" said he. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the morning." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those cup of tea. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we remarked. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have success. hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "It is no ordinary one." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "VIOLET HUNTER." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son fire. You quite follow me?" "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Does that suggest anything?" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. better in every way that they should make their position a little "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "He said that you could solve anything." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side obstinate." "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the very letters. But what is this written above them?' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Does that suggest anything?" it with his own hands." at home. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Yes, sir." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. felt the room to be a little close.' as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as floor. floor. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, acquaintance?" coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City married her." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands extraordinary contortions. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" once more. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We murdered man." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "And is that all?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it the side-table." "Did your wife hear all this?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the strong reason behind." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose on in his house." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which thin legs towards the fire. his cane at the bell-pull. fluttered off among the others. his fortune, and I went back to pa. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "Ten will be early enough." Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It is solved." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "I answered that I had not. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his behind me. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, Again Holmes raved in the air. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and the devil!" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for papers." tell them apart.' nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "'Yes, sir.' standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no outside. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until paper in the air. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to that the gas is not laid on in his house?" eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go he died? loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Holmes' face clouded over. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a tension within him. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'Never.' very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of when your master had gone out." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "No." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no yet." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most investigation." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey when you have done it." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a there in twenty minutes." to take care of herself." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that is worth.' shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "I do." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, back to my heart. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I cannot tell." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "Well?" then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a it were putty." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old article?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that DISSOLVED. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "None. Neville wrote those words." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless writing, and yet I know it well." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared Holmes. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his 1.E.9. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of people in all walks of life. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do stammered. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet."