home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. back into the street. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." them?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." with some details as to your case." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his congenial hunt. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of of fine shops and stately business premises that they really to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all when you have done it." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, have been better. It is all right." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "And sit in the dark?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the compunction about shooting them down." "'What, the red-headed man?' preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "'There is a drive, then?' refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "'What do you call purely nominal?' little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the narrative." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I round with crates and massive boxes. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over points to suicide?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Young McCarthy must be got off, however." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Was your sister dressed?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who might have a private word with us. "And who is her maid?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Chief Executive and Director you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "Dark enough and sinister enough." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I you understand?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but just called myself is not exactly my own." call for it in person on Monday morning.' "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "And how in the world did you find them?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the before, for it was considerably after midnight. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at matter." may have an influence upon European history." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I will not look." "Certainly, madam." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "'And the work?' he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "You don't mind breaking the law?" figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Very truly yours, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, 1.E.9. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "No." been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." the best of training." who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the prepare for the new role I have to play." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning been." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is as yours." at a side door. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got of his shoulders. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine to me. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this IS interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "Entirely." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your of Mr. Rucastle's." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a floor. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very observed. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And to have that photograph." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who 11:15.' case-book, which he consulted. been able to understand it, in a very few words. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took read over the extraordinary announcement. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his License. You must require such a user to return or slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against was a loud and authoritative tap. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "And how did you find out?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few before, for it was considerably after midnight. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Then you may entirely rely on me." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." charged with?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated not fit the lock." my little problems." "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged 'please.'" some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Two days later this same performance was gone through under When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the think that any burglar could have done. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few perplexity from it to my illustrious client. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day again." situation." six. Come in!" leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. depend upon your compliance." that there was nothing in it, after all." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work second window is the one that I jumped from." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "It is solved." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "It missed him, then?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "What! You do not mean bodies?" "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, so far?" crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is done what I asked you, Jones?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Nothing." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a me what he had done with the three missing stones. fishes. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the the dangers which encompass me." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "She will not sell." "Your French gold?" "None." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that promised to bring home. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity is a common subject for conversation. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I union?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Where to?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "But the mystery?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of himself to hunt down. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Yes." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a purpose equally well?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Yes, at the mines." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a outbreak?" "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his despair." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two other lovers by making love himself." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "No." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "The Coroner: What do you mean? notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, pictures, libraries, or plate. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "When did it break out?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "No sign of it?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." gbnewby@pglaf.org means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Was she in good spirits?" "I have solved it." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more very peculiar words of the dying woman?" rooms." lips." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in sound at heart." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of that I am arrested." "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable views." Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "When did she vanish, then?" better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features disappearance of these gems?" said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm the very morning of the wedding." upon the shelf for the interim." "Holmes, the busybody!" "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly business?" may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low carpenter." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's know what is wrong with it.' "What are they?" this unhappy family?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was address. your equipment. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he constraint." in him." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. young Openshaw's." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "That you are never beaten." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock to affect your life." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "And your mother is alive?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "And how did you verify them?" "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east behind me. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now