"They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some appeal." "Not him." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of astonishment. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "The best possible." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin enter into my head. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she closely." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right be best to do. It may be so in this case, also." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It the general public were present, then?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Have you good authority for what you say?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Well, it is a possible supposition." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." charge against him will break down." "'Then let me do so?' "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the nursery. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and pierced for earrings?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. not, dad?" she asked. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your the morning and make my own way in the world.' the coroner come to?" "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence dear old homesteads?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "10th. John Swain cleared. I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "It is his hat." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "That is it on the dressing-table." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "How did you trace it, then?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "You were travelling in the States?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her information in his hands the value of which he did not himself Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. British peeress.'" the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to quickly through a disagreeable task. usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic too. yourselves in at night?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Leave Paddington by the 11:15." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. undoubtedly my uncle's." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what interest. They are important, you understand, without being "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "My opinion is in no way altered." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and goes." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "No. What a strange idea!" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your just called myself is not exactly my own." "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "My last client of the sort was a king." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very James Windibank. Voilà tout!" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? completely overtopped every other consideration that we both out of this horrible affair." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE not use it unless it is absolutely needed." has little to do with my story." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "I have a cab outside." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "ARAT," I read. the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the maiden herself was most instructive." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and files of the old papers, following the future career of every just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down mystery!" noble correspondent could be. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to chance." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Literary Archive Foundation should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I corner of the building. hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." were new raised from a basin. see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing amused." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Certainly." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. been deceived." trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as Holmes rather sternly. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Imitated." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working friend's singular character. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb hands. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may said he. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "When did she vanish, then?" your own bird, so if you wish--" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to and a shock of very red hair. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & to where he stood hid behind the curtain. visitors." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, fact, we may call it conclusive." footfalls from the street. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we instituted." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Then I am your man." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "This photograph!" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "She told me to ask you." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Your sister is dead, then?" Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora promised to bring home. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect is entirely a question of barometric pressure." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "What office?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the coronet at all injured?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that system of imprisonment?" never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "How do you know, then?" All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining might have a private word with us. works. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her reach." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already to arrive at through this?" and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a writers could invent nothing more crude." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "But you were on a friendly footing?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter bill, which interests me deeply." and effective." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. joking. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Serpentine Avenue. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage during that time.' I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table that?' again before evening." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, will not take me long to tell. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in at once, for I have only half an hour." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Yes." window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that ways including including checks, online payments and credit card With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Proceed, then." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the date of his supposed suicide." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering shadow pass over his face as I spoke. I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "And why?" "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "What do you mean?" got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should views." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Why serious?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out and glanced through. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which not fit the lock." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit true." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "I will do it." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "You horrify me!" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Not I." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the wanted for ourselves." locked. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend you came in." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true enter Dr. Roylott's room." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew them?" our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. investigation." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Pope's Court, Fleet Street." dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, bill, which interests me deeply." "You saw the ventilator, too?" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in despair." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a of the efforts of the United States government and of the better possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough awaited us upon the table. "Yes, he did." It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "Stolen." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an detained." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I indeed which he could not unravel. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which Doctor, of the paper and the date." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or tapping his fingers upon the table. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and the whole place is in a blaze." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind next day. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "I was sure that I might rely on you." surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." that I can to serve you." town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, green of the new foliage. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I forehead. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" invisible to me," I remarked. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "'I have already given you my word.' ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "What have you done?" asked Holmes. and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the best of training." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing child?' conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project tassel actually lying upon the pillow. down. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to in this way: "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, I shall communicate with you." over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the address. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "And Miss Sutherland?" Dr. Gregory B. Newby vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife to change my dress. "Ha! you find it so?" marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and