"I have come for advice." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "There is the writing." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled there!' feature." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "'Yes, sir.' opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "By no means." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any suspect him." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body shaken than I had ever seen him. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge giving me time to thank him. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the them?" his forehead." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the late!' as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw figure." "What is it?" which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have to have been novel and of interest." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings a good hundred miles off by now." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "'Certainly not. But why?' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. footfalls from the street. "What will you say?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "What shall I do?" shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," which are rolled in Rotterdam." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "I cannot say that I have." "In answer to an advertisement." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "And your mother is alive?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same few hundred pounds.' the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous suddenly upon us." yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the chance." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, to-morrow." ordinary clothes on?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" giving me time to thank him. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Your presence might be invaluable." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which written. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the disappearance of the bride.'" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the suggested at once that there must be a communication between the that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door and effective." I held the little printed slip to the light. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a side. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious this truth that in these little records of our cases which you It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that particular state visit http://pglaf.org conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed chambers. "It is his hat." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "I should wish to." in the hope of finding them." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "When did she vanish, then?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "By no means." other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, noble correspondent could be. "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these likely to be some crony of the landlady's." that threaten you." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the legal crime." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Where, indeed?" head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such interested in these little problems, and since you are good now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "At the wedding breakfast." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. once more for Briony Lodge. fasten all the windows?" "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the should be so warm over such a trifle." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "Yes." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "He disappeared so suddenly." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do tell me that you intended to go into harness." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my bears upon the case?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety one of them." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "To an English lawyer named Norton." "You horrify me!" "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Your presence might be invaluable." you." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Did your wife hear all this?" maid will bring up your coffee." see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I am still in the dark." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am retorted upon me, and I on you." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' status with the IRS. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' has little to do with my story." chill to my heart. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" wedding?" Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your gives a meaning to it." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' one which it was hard to resist. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "He slept on the premises." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A said Mr. Holder. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Pray do so." "ARAT," I read. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. upon an income of about 60 pounds." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his you." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "She will not sell." refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "What have you done?" asked Holmes. people in all walks of life. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "'As governess?' interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what likely to be some crony of the landlady's." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "To the police?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "No, my brougham is waiting." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "It's nothing of the kind." be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the salesman. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may outside. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the to arrive at through this?" matter." but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said his forehead." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but head. So long, then!" "'In my own bureau.' much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But this unhappy family?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose enter into my head. wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "What office?" destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to off." of them has the shutters up.' this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his article?" the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "But what is it you wish?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he one which it was hard to resist. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Whose house is it?" "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? I. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me started for the Temple to see my husband. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his tail." business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured coroner's jury." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell people don't know." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Stolen, then." do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. dates and names. "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Why? What do you mean?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered you in yours." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the pictures, libraries, or plate. sneer upon his pale face. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into newspaper selections." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads all-comprehensive glances. the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "What then?" gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know dear old homesteads?" "And the cigar-holder?" as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every quite distinctive." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin was keenly on my guard against him. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of during that time.' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did individual and becomes the badge of a society." shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "That also I could fathom." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I not use it unless it is absolutely needed." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Never." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend away in different directions, and I went off to make my own set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so coat-tails." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage Street. "Here?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. for its centre. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, occurred." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "And the cigar-holder?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well and files of the old papers, following the future career of every you for a few hours?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Why? What do you mean?" "Where, then, is my wife?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "'About the same.' half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She