without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "It is true that I have been generally successful." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about from the brougham. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Well." Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "By no means." flock.' brain must have something in it." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his meant it for the best. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "And how?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we article?" again before evening." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive business." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "'Is 4 pounds a week.' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its an introduction to him?" which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "It surprised me." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in License. You must require such a user to return or happened." me upon any point which I do not make clear." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Oh, the cause is excellent!" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' and laid it on the table. thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather records." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves in the hope of finding them." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall meanly of me." village inn over there?" invisible to me," I remarked. crime." than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Stoke Moran." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Pray let us have it, for all that." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." ready to-morrow?' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "What! You do not mean bodies?" remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally I. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but to talk it over. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was along the entire front of the house, with three long windows were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Pray let us have it, for all that." will be renamed. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "No, my brougham is waiting." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it carpenter." outsides of the windows. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." really the only notable feature about the thing." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "'Which dealer's?' Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "'What are you doing there?' he asked. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out most interesting one." it with his own hands." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "And I." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his which was all perfectly true. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, affair. the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the Eyford at 11:15.' a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which jewels which you have stolen?' "Her father is very rich?" Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "But what is it you wish?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the with you alone." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those suggested at once that there must be a communication between the true." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "But it has twice been burgled." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee was it brought him the coronet? ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in foot. leaning back in his chair. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must may never be exposed to such a temptation." happened." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "The knees of his trousers." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his crackling voice. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. quite distinctive." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself have had none more fantastic than this." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Witness: It was. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. Doctor, of the paper and the date." bell. Holmes whistled. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Will you go?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "So it appears." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. to-night?' "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest served to weaken the effect. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Literary Archive Foundation brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Was there a secret marriage?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven down. as he remarks, very much against the son." opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "'Never.' stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all success. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from certainly not very gracious." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he conduct the inquiry." as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first that, and I came down." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "'How far from the body?' "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "I assure you that I am in your hands." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the did not hear it also.' weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his long narrative. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I see a sister of mine apply for." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's fatally injured? you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has enter Dr. Roylott's room." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary ran thus: very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than disturbance in my wife." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "An accident, I presume?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "Awake, Watson?" he asked. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do prisoner's face. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between know what is wrong with it.' by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "Yes, the wine-cellar." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" is," said he presently: "I should be immensely obliged to you." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court was a lad." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our him!" held up the lantern and gazed about him. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should have an American origin." gone. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "The vanishing of the lady." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole obstinate." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'I am sure that I do not know.' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes help us in this matter." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, and a shock of very red hair. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the conceal it?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "No. What a strange idea!" the room while you explain this matter?" suggested at once that there must be a communication between the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." she to prove their authenticity?" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "No, I am descending." examination of the premises, but without finding anything which whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'Then let me do so?' passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional begin with, and I had not got mine yet." He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I cannot imagine." "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in writer." there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and information in his hands the value of which he did not himself were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "'Entirely.' the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I writers could invent nothing more crude." gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I DAMAGE. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "It looks newer than the other things?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the a room. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the on in his house." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by John Swain, of St. Augustine. I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "But you can know nothing of this?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "About a month then." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "I am following you closely," I answered. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave question. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I think that it is very probable." so.' "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I meant." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said a monotonous occupation." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Certainly." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from man. I know him from the photograph." leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic fattened it expressly for you.' "None. Neville wrote those words." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress,