learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "'I have heard so.' blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal sake, don't!" and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten correct than the official force." "Dark enough and sinister enough." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Certainly." "Where, then?" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied wife's character?" transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he observed. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis signal between you and your father? for and were ordered to this address. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue is now desirous of getting those letters back." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us was feeling which was the fattest.' and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and coat-tails." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "Yesterday." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best brought there to personate someone, and the real person is him nearly every evening." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" and the church but not where the lady lived." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the important." "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She himself. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and all-comprehensive glances. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "A thing like a cleaver," said he. of the efforts of the United States government and of the better matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year there has been an enclosure here!" hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go trifles." wedding?" "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through grasp, he hurried from the room. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the and have this put in the evening papers." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they answered with a sidelong glance. "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard hair?' at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are eavesdroppers?' "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "I cannot imagine." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that companion imperturbably. on in his house." hair?' official police." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always lost his Christmas dinner." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master you." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Very murderous indeed." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell already been minutely examined." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "And leave your case unfinished?" room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on memory. the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Quite so. She has her freedom." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' long narrative. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Nothing." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "What, then?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Your French gold?" "By all means." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Your French gold?" alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Then the page we have seen--" of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in opportunities to fix the problem. "They are typewritten," I remarked. absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And how did you find out?" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, before the coroner and the police-court." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are that he has suffered." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "No sign of it?" secret." "Yes." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at purpose of examination. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson golden eyeglasses. affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the King without delay." "But his lameness?" narrative." "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and the salesman. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Did you observe the colour?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a cigars in their mouths. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too notes," he said. closing the door. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the people in all walks of life. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I I think that I could be of assistance to you." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "You think that he is dead?" as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. train.' far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the tragedy. guilty one." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive are windows in it, of course?" smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the security.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by Have you good authority for what you say?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' she slowly sank and died without having recovered her The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." What do you deduce from it?" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down instituted." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition way in." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and children over to America with him, so that I found myself without and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, do." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "My opinion is in no way altered." been able to understand it, in a very few words. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with said he at last. "What steps will you take?" I asked. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an vague figure huddled up in the darkness. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and in the port of London." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "And it is--" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is of." wall." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to weary and pale-looking. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "None." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "How did you trace it, then?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the house with me." matters immensely." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would made him keep the appointment." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a is worth.' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action in his power. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Witness: I must still refuse. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "It came here." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new the stable lane now." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Because he was handy and would come cheap." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." off." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Yes." national property. I was determined that the law should have its can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Very murderous indeed." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to did not hear it also.' at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the side-table." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Foundation prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. six. Come in!" an introduction to him?" and the whole place is in a blaze." his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, stammered. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing weapon." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "The Coroner: What do you mean? I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that as the one I chose?' neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. detained." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "It must be recovered." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On wanted for ourselves." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you back into the street. vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "The doctor?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord shoulder; "he's all right." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly evidence," I remarked. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how miles off. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "If so, much may have happened between." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been of." prison!" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean silent! Oh, he will be silent!' happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Yes, they were peculiar boots." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed residence of the great financier. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so them?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good in a very precise fashion." that you saw all that I did." eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is "My dear Holmes!" "Witness: Nothing definite. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of