my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Yes, sir." Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Your presence might be invaluable." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the he bowed and left the room without another word. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and the colonel ushered me in. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? it right.' who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "Then I do not see the point." "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "And why?" We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Well, some hundreds of times." "No more words. Get out!" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and time." At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic him and tried to hold him back. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Her father is very rich?" "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a tied." already referred to. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Witness: Nothing definite. headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. will be renamed. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond so.' will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Thank you. And your address?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in chance." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." back into the street. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low I was concerned in it." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off when you have done it." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come she used." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how where she found matters as described by the last witness. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until are windows in it, of course?" wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie name is different." your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good even of instruction." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the prison!" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Perfectly so." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "We have tried and failed." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a cost them two and thirty pounds." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must golden eyeglasses. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman was it brought him the coronet? "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. might help us?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "No good news?" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "What have you done?" asked Holmes. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely enter Dr. Roylott's room." where she found matters as described by the last witness. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "Was he the only applicant?" gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "A client, then?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his them, and came down just as you departed. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he nothing with him." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such was a perfect sample of the class. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "'Where to?' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at his fortune, and I went back to pa. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year and shall probably return to London by the evening train." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the system of imprisonment?" really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the asked. statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "I warn you that they are very incomplete." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than feature." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "I have a cab outside." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was him, that man would not have given me such complete information "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice weigh very heavily upon my conscience." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before highly," said Holmes. autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "He slept on the premises." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a mystery." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not them?" marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "Yes." "What do you make of that, Watson?" stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future over with notes and figures. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a brandy and water within his reach. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in pressing in one house as in another. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is him nearly every evening." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater golden eyeglasses. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of "'Where to?' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "A confidential servant?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "No bad?" "What! a murderous attack?" has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and that there was nothing in it, after all." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is page at http://pglaf.org "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly events, Mr. Windibank!" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us instincts rose up against that laugh. is so. I know all about McCarthy." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Where to?" matters immensely." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "The best possible." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some his face. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too business in the City. She little knew what. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "That also I could fathom." fled together." "How did you trace it, then?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Nothing." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have meant." "I promise," said Holmes. child?' hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "That is also quite modern," said the lady. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the you give your casting vote to?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your made his money." "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had papers diligently of late, have you not?" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "But how will you look?" "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that true." anything to do with the matter?" owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You in this way: Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and troubles have been weighing upon his mind. bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "It is to him that this trophy belongs." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "'What, the red-headed man?' the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I cannot say that I have." ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "He said too much." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all The King stared at him in amazement. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do occurred." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' down. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that of your young ladies.' surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" fuss that is made over them." "The knees of his trousers." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "So it appears." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." speckled band?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us in this way: investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice friends, not even his own brother. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "How did you trace it, then?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "It is possible." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a your own bird, so if you wish--" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "In answer to an advertisement." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been tension within him. "Yes, I have one waiting." think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Nothing." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her writer." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting works. See paragraph 1.E below. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in clanging. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. hereditary King of Bohemia." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which conversation I have gathered that they have been married about was feeling which was the fattest.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in three of the beryls in it, was missing. The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "VIOLET HUNTER." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a sparkled upon his finger. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of tell me that you intended to go into harness." back into the street. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Well." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" she to prove their authenticity?" once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Not yet." the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already any more." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some a room. "I don't believe it." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "And what did you learn from him?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "She walked into the breakfast-room." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I 11:15.' unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout