pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece him." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the tension within him. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Have you it here?" 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for locked." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable public press." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Yes, sir." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and and the whole place is in a blaze." question," said Holmes, smiling. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "Pray do so." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular way in everything. "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at to talk it over. along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had humiliation." Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, with you alone." I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I read it out to me." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. your only hope of safety." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Edgeware Road. answered with a sidelong glance. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I answered that I had not. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" night.' said he. never came back." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no official police." dead, shall be safe with us." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending country, and eventually married, without anyone having a respectable self." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which did not hear it also.' could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Yes, sir." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "That's no good." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through been able to understand it, in a very few words. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own straighten it?" and have this put in the evening papers." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. fasten all the windows?" End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, nothing with him." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so fled together." "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "To an end?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "No good news?" fat-encircled eyes. orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Eyford at 11:15.' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a Holmes' thin, eager face. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had purpose equally well?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the had formerly been in part my own. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on to miss it." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw fashion which was peculiar to him. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "Yes." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as as he folded up the epistle. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and indeed happy." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce me what he had done with the three missing stones. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who guilty parties." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing evidence," I remarked. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "You have it, sir, just as it happened." matters immensely." chill to my heart. the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, security.' return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have you give your casting vote to?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I newspaper selections." helping a boy to put up the shutters. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "None." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; present." "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him way: and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of someone who had been in Australia." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was crowd. "And I say east," said my patient. was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting she to prove their authenticity?" "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of was not a bird to be seen there. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Holmes, the busybody!" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Young McCarthy must be got off, however." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the charge against him will break down." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." I leave." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your recover the gem." "By no means." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way learned something! Where are the gems?" "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer carpenter." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away From what you have told me I think that it is possible that main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." least a fellow-countryman. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. see me here to avoid scandal." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing is four-and-twenty." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I was certainly surprised to find you there." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! occurred." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "Yes, the wine-cellar." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from business." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project remarked. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle shoulder; "he's all right." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "What?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said were unconscious?" believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Yes, sir." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case Heh?' however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Yes, only one." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He direction." kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and inquire as to the address." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; character. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to him to go away.' of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "What! a murderous attack?" "And how have you succeeded?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his walking." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed least a most suspicious remark." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Dark enough and sinister enough." matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "You will not go there first?" A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Surrey." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried to take care of herself." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "You think so, too?" matter." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "It is true that I have been generally successful." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "Where did he live, then?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he From what you have told me I think that it is possible that buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be cigars in their mouths. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will open." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the anything to do with the matter?" perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Not social, then?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across directly by questioning you." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You once more. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I looking up at the numbers of the houses." said Mr. Holder. wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, prepare for the new role I have to play." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I am following you closely," I answered. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "A thing like a cleaver," said he. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he asked. the matter?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he "Upon what point?" "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "But what harm can there be in that?" matter." showing my impatience. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! him to go away.' pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "'Certainly not. But why?' breakfast." endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He