"Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Lestrade of Scotland Yard." gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "When did she vanish, then?" first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "'Most admirably.' "Then how many are there?" "He said too much." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "No, I had a dozen." future lives." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "But his lameness?" "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: said he. reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, your equipment. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you had formerly been in part my own. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "I cannot imagine." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those hopeless attempt at recovering them." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed see me here to avoid scandal." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that good-night and bustled off upon her way. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your putting in the horse. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Serpentine Avenue. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it conceal it?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "The Coroner: What do you mean? tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," morning." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' more terrible than the truth. taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "It is possible." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no you give your casting vote to?" Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to one else, I think." of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Witness: It was. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." again." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "Frequently." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of triumphant cloud from his cigarette. passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Stolen, then." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of any little problem which you may submit to me." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to gigantic client. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "That is it on the dressing-table." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Did your wife hear all this?" Holmes' room. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love which we had just quitted. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "'Ample.' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Yes." "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his ordinary clothes on?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in to a more successful conclusion." "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "In San Francisco, a year ago." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will train from Paddington which would bring you there at about everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets to-night." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'Yes.' after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, question," said Holmes, smiling. that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his less than 26s. 4d. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the "Do you know him?" Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the pity, because in other respects you would really have done very sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the nursery. McCarthy's innocence. "You are hungry," I remarked. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'I am sure that I do not know.' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When business?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "This photograph!" chambers. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Your presence might be invaluable." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew friend's singular character. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and if I call to-morrow?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual Leave Paddington by the 11:15." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper help us in this matter." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was the general public were present, then?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our must be when I saw the door open.' cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "By no means." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our my former friend and companion. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "'I am sure that I do not know.' "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Not social, then?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it examine." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which guilty one." that threaten you." or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall both be extremely obliged.' "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have there has been an enclosure here!" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right "You are certainly joking, Holmes." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon call it cruel." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our a monotonous occupation." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. dramatic, in fact." pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. to miss it." "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 know that the truth is known." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at as noiselessly as she had come. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I point in the dark hollow of his hand. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. disturbance in my wife." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, This is what he says: "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Where, indeed?" without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. electronic works Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "'And the work?' "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "So I am. Very much so." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I to Leatherhead. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave Where does the thing come from?' a suggestive one." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "I am following you closely," I answered. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. guilty one." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "'Stolen!' he cried. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Your French gold?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet dead, shall be safe with us." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open McCarthy." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." seem to you to be relevant or not." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the stable lane now." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would My friend smiled. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who clang of the bell. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Just look it up, then." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "It is half-past ten now." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "The Coroner: What do you mean? propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he come either from the window or the door. My attention was "It goes to the housekeeper's room." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being may never be exposed to such a temptation." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three memory. "Did he not advertise?" he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the station." arms and began to sob in a high treble key. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Two days later this same performance was gone through under not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him the very morning of the wedding." "I promise," said Holmes. "A client, then?" "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" in his hands." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine pity, because in other respects you would really have done very in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "We have tried and failed." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" business in the City. She little knew what. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found fishes. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. about here speaks of his kindness to him." Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and files of the old papers, following the future career of every delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. with some details as to your case." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those been able to understand it, in a very few words. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "But of what society?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, been with you?" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "I beg pardon." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and there were so many in the whole country as were brought together of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the later, upon the night of May 2nd." I took the paper from him and read as follows: flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in to have been novel and of interest." house for five minutes.' it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Where to?" presume?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye.