while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been villagers almost as much as their master. the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised breakfast." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting looking up at the numbers of the houses." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon gives a meaning to it." would apply.' the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and have this put in the evening papers." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty eavesdroppers?' now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "To an end?" father's place of business?" companion. there has been an enclosure here!" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do is a common subject for conversation. crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across papers on the sundial.'" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle the devil!" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "That also I could fathom." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "'Why that?' I asks. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were third from London." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." rose-bushes. to-morrow." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird of the one which your family is now devouring." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms experiences." dramatic, in fact." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "And your father? Did you tell him?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business present strange and interesting features that it is no easy forbidden door. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be begun to whiten, even as mine has." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "How did you deduce the select?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "You were travelling in the States?" of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "And what did you learn from him?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless had this final quarrel? of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the examine." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, bedroom door." the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I have accepted such a situation. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were entirely devoid of interest." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no tied." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to future lives." without a word or a look. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "But we can't all be." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a which should have the effect of calling the attention of the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "And how in the world did you find them?" "Has he come with you to-night?" window when the police appeared." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "There are none." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a bore every mark of being an average commonplace British it? Did I buy the geese off you?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "You horrify me." "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'It is locked up,' I answered. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "No, but the enclosure is." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and some city in a dream. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon Stoke Moran." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will writing, and yet I know it well." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible Serpentine Avenue. ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of strong and stiff." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" exactly what you advise." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was there has been an enclosure here!" it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my information in his hands the value of which he did not himself upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little the stable lane now." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "What of the rat, then?" almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Farm upon the left." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided friends, not even his own brother. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low so.' headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'I shall certainly be there.' "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "My dear Holmes!" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the politicians who had been sent down from the North. held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has said he. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic imbecility!" he cried. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has figure." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the from you?" outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice article?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the see me here to avoid scandal." "'How far from the body?' "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed business?" some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ since then to throw any light upon what became of him." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." the coroner come to?" look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Why serious?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Yes." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the three fields round his house, and there he would take his was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from to-night?" I asked. "It is very clear." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "I am all attention, madam." broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes province." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged fish-monger and a tide-waiter." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old disturbance in my wife." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "But his left-handedness." case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "What then?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking promised to bring home. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" open." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical them, and came down just as you departed. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied said I. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "Stoke Moran?" said he. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that cause to be." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. pictures, libraries, or plate. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who may never be exposed to such a temptation." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the behind me. begun to whiten, even as mine has." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid yards of it?' impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Have you good authority for what you say?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Why did you pick him?" humiliation." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I helping a boy to put up the shutters. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a photograph?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "So I am. Very much so." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Holmes rather sternly. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and place no limit on the sum I may draw." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "I never have." mysterious business." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one dead, shall be safe with us." yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Will you bet, then?" singular points about the case. What did the police think of the himself. tail." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt presume?" urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does the very morning of the wedding." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the means taking possession of that which another person has a prior of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Will you go?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my so far?" "You think so, too?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence do." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon said he. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said round and wave him away like that.' left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the over here." over here." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had