"I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in late." have established a very serious case against the son of the of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "This photograph!" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united train.' houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the point in the dark hollow of his hand. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how McCarthy's innocence. from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, became a certainty. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "My photograph." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "Imitated." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "If so, much may have happened between." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before criminal. We have already had experience of such." again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Imitated." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "And why?" was used.' "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property little adventures." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Yes. He waved his hands." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able I nodded to show that I had heard. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was the matter?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between as the one I chose?' it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an Leave Paddington by the 11:15." have an American origin." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little the night.' the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been signal between you and your father? "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they already been minutely examined." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the outside." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor tail." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must of his shoulders. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how advice." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Yes, I have one waiting." "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "In heaven's name, what for?" few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a hurried by. "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "No bad?" "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue coat-tails." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each pressing in one house as in another. He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was American. Then who could this American be, and why should he very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so was lame." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the instincts rose up against that laugh. "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked I shall communicate with you." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, his cane at the bell-pull. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his 1.F. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the bled considerably." in the dead of the night?' "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line enter into my head. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too his fortune, and I went back to pa. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I foresight and the moral retrogression?" and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he train from Paddington which would bring you there at about and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess more terrible than the truth. occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "'What are you doing there?' he asked. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with the running down." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway own family. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at her also." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "But his left-handedness." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. the Red-headed League." papers diligently of late, have you not?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "But his left-handedness." "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Dr. Gregory B. Newby "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The danger is over." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." prison!" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Munro.' companion imperturbably. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second written. "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "It is half-past ten now." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the been deceived." congratulate you again." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "Yes, that is the Crown." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a interests were the same as his." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "My opinion is in no way altered." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." more terrible than the truth. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "'Never,' said I. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss anything to a woman, for she would have her way." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and IS "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Will you go?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, furiously. could gather together that I was able to avert another public client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "The knees of his trousers." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform strode off upon his way. immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. side. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among in a friendly supper." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there round with crates and massive boxes. passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as Foundation into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business leaning back in his chair. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "You have but to name it." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he tell them apart.' signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much held up the lantern and gazed about him. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He quite distinctive." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. weapon." finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "How can you tell that?" bachelor.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be you for a few hours?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "It's nothing of the kind." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "Ample." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "That is it on the dressing-table." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. your equipment. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" question," said Holmes, smiling. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "I should wish to." had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton next day. have one." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "Her father is very rich?" the date of his supposed suicide." you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, of the one which your family is now devouring." would then never go into court at all." was not a bird to be seen there. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know of your young ladies.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "What is it, then--a fire?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. any little problem which you may submit to me." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love know that the truth is known." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One II. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them three of the beryls in it, was missing. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of more solid." room?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Your sister is dead, then?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to mystery." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer voice. to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "We must have a cab." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then electronic works residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes you in yours." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen are windows in it, of course?" though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. interest. They are important, you understand, without being either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you events than those which have happened in my own family." to-night." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come