His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his posted to-day." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. who was a member of your goose club." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman written, and locked the door of the office after me. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another cost them two and thirty pounds." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did been with you?" He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it. the driver. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "Very much so." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "He is still with you, I presume?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great works. See paragraph 1.E below. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your useful material for showing traces. The double line a little arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then little adventures." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your observed. call for it in person on Monday morning.' upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. depend upon my doing so.' reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that companion imperturbably. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "It was." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, his face. "Who by?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." with you alone." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in to a light-house. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "But not more so than I to find you." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a you." key turn in the lock." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was morning." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "How long did she speak to this Alice?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" read over the extraordinary announcement. nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was me. You must get home instantly and act." "'I have heard so.' "Frequently." "Witness: Nothing definite. "Her father is very rich?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in noting anything else of interest. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was his face which made him a very different person to the round, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "You horrify me!" explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Surrey." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I yet." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "When did she vanish, then?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in province." tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in go back?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to chair. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest is so. I know all about McCarthy." tied." "Quite so." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "Will you bet, then?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "'I am sure that I do not know.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran Gutenberg-tm License. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "BALLARAT." could go. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "Dirty?" vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with been lifted and conveyed somewhere." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "That is possible." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" For additional contact information: compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom noting anything else of interest. threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a fluttered off among the others. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a pierced for earrings?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the During two years I have had three consultations and one small inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" be.' not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the to arrive at through this?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." showing my impatience. Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful morning." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet guilty parties." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud attention." "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the "Game for a morning drive?" or other trace. But how on earth--" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "Never." "It looks newer than the other things?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The guilty one." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Murdered?" house for five minutes.' blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have enter Dr. Roylott's room." "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled all?" "No." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had eat it." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was fishes. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you me where it went to?" eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "It is possible." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "My dear Holmes!" "Nothing." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed bled considerably." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a what I may call a really hard day's work." "Very murderous indeed." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "No, finished." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, are windows in it, of course?" something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the letters?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual had no one to advise her at such a crisis." there has been an enclosure here!" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Upon what point?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "None. Neville wrote those words." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." for and were ordered to this address. trifles." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I am following you closely," I answered. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from you came in." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded likely to be some crony of the landlady's." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "In which, sir?" with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow purpose of examination. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates than was visible to me." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he geese which you supplied to the Alpha." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "Yes, I have one waiting." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. roused himself from his reverie. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate morning." "I see many objections to any such theory." "The landlord of the Alpha." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "I say it is." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our if only as a check to my own memory." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If could not account in any way for the presence of the missing too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "But how could you guess what the motive was?" the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can hereditary King of Bohemia." PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the held up the lantern and gazed about him. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the carriage. It was a chestnut." if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the to a more successful conclusion." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause handed it to him. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The burst out into a roar of laughter. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall promised to bring home. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads strength in the others." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it intrusion of other matters." "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," hands. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not The note was undated, and without either signature or address. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he fact, we may call it conclusive." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "10th. John Swain cleared. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts some city in a dream. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just soul! here is her carriage at the door." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his was lame." kind enough to tell me what I should do." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Married! When?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' such person." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "The decline of his fortunes, then?" provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, from the brougham. connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way