which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress ago." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. views." "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." shaken than I had ever seen him. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" my friend's incisive reasoning. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a suggested at once that there must be a communication between the interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one once more for Briony Lodge. It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "Ha! you find it so?" he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, your co-operation." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Arthur Conan Doyle winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my forbidden door. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this noting anything else of interest. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" of it with the greatest attention. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "9th. McCauley cleared. the salesman. his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a yards of it?' deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would heavy and sharp instrument." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" some water from a caraffe. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "But your client--" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted http://gutenberg.net/license). However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "His face fell immediately. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Project Gutenberg-tm works. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "The doctor?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out narrative." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "I assure you that I am in your hands." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Sutherland?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the remarked. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' goes." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, other, as fresh and trim as possible. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen help us in this matter." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was maid will bring up your coffee." said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Nor running a chance of arrest?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance not within a twentieth part of the market price." at a side door. more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "We must have a cab." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the on in his house." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "There is the writing." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter "No." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Now, then, what's the last entry?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "She walked into the breakfast-room." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" cigars in their mouths. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an British peeress.'" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down the dangers which encompass me." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She about here speaks of his kindness to him." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who telegram would bring me down to your help." "'Ample.' it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much gone before you can get him to hospital." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "Very. But will he see it?" insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It know what is wrong with it.' had formerly been in part my own. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by the dangers which encompass me." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, depend upon your compliance." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other fire. You quite follow me?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" light and attacked it." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "Yes." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "No, distinctly professional." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Certainly." and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." purpose of examination. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my American. Then who could this American be, and why should he case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, 1.E.9. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have clang of the bell. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Did you become engaged then?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, that you saw all that I did." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" if only as a check to my own memory." But Holmes shook his head gravely. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "Pray do so." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "My Mary? Impossible!" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his done what I asked you, Jones?" extraordinary contortions. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "And why in hopes?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely in this way: what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. retorted upon me, and I on you." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Never." Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, unkempt, staring out at me. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "And who is her maid?" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant subject to the trademark license, especially commercial whatever might befall. posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Your French gold?" to have been novel and of interest." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." foresight and the moral retrogression?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague ventilator." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "It's nothing of the kind." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'I have already given you my word.' "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the ceiling. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "None." seem to you to be relevant or not." without success. At last the little money which I had saved began agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has words came to my lips. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "One horse?" interjected Holmes. fear." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial morning." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten she has been waylaid. There has been no result." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit mystery!" "Yes, at the mines." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental dates and names. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "Really! You surprise me." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "He slept on the premises." daring than any effort of the imagination." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "You think so, too?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Nothing." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had been with you?" you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It strode off upon his way. He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the fatally injured? mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same down from London to inquire more deeply into it." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot trying to your nerves." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how compunction about shooting them down." has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his throat." upon an income of about 60 pounds." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Look there!" said he. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even 'I should be able to look after that for you.' photograph?" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own said he, "my real name is James Ryder." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it that, and I came down." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and legal crime." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed there when the Rucastles went away." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "By all means." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, been shamefully used." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just unprofitable." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg extraordinary contortions. "Tired-looking or fresh?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he six. Come in!" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she arms and began to sob in a high treble key. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which experiences." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money wife's character?" remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the coronet at all injured?" "Quite so." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "It surprised me." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "I am following you closely," I answered. where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been tell me that you intended to go into harness." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable asked. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Seven!" I answered. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing child?' has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "But what will you do?" "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Was your sister dressed?" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "But his lameness?" business matters.' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "I was mad--insane." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no hair?' unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have address. his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "How did you trace it, then?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and the tragedy. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. experiences." "What, then, did Peterson do?" instituted." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an there were so many in the whole country as were brought together the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and