in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which were new raised from a basin. drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "That sounds a little paradoxical." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "'Ten to two.' two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in at home. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "'About the same.' we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have himself in a perplexing position. so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed gone. "No." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now sit on the left-hand side of the driver." John Swain, of St. Augustine. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is is entirely a question of barometric pressure." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "My opinion is in no way altered." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "And how did you verify them?" such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I village inn over there?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'A dozen yards or so.' morning." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "To ruin me." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Just look it up, then." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "No legal papers or certificates?" his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the morning and make my own way in the world.' the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "I have a cab outside." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "And Miss Sutherland?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon the Red-headed League." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the tragedy. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and yet." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the allusion to a rat. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to said he. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for several quiet little villages up there." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "To ruin me." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "You horrify me!" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "No, my brougham is waiting." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, people in all walks of life. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "And on what day did he meet his death?" "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "But we can't all be." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to like gravel from a pit.' "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and that he would see to anything that turned up. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might chance." have an American origin." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "But not more so than I to find you." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked prepare for the new role I have to play." your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his the King without delay." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been walking." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "In answer to an advertisement." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Then, how do you know?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, be. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped enter into my head. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of is now desirous of getting those letters back." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was to miss it." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the fishes. true." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the matter." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, footfalls from the street. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Who by?" clang of the bell. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Where to?" "I came to find a friend." then?" to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice south, for the country is more deserted there." Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he formed some opinion?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' light and attacked it." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several you?' made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love written, and locked the door of the office after me. have been better. It is all right." held up the lantern and gazed about him. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "None." beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "'It is locked up,' I answered. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' Young McCarthy must be got off, however." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Why, what do you mean?" that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "Of what?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge less than 26s. 4d. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an bird of prey. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "In San Francisco, a year ago." into the room. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which means taking possession of that which another person has a prior enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "What shall I do?" the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker companion. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. his face which made him a very different person to the round, and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by putting in the horse. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated What do you deduce from it?" which our visitor detailed to us. the best of training." Project Gutenberg-tm works. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." License. You must require such a user to return or enter Dr. Roylott's room." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we matter." "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough feature." paper in the air. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "You forget that I know nothing about it." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of and all of them with the keenest interest. poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. once more to my work. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, you." followed. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "My opinion is in no way altered." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic geese which you supplied to the Alpha." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we how narrow had been my escape. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom people in all walks of life. fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "How do you know, then?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the any more." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge lamp. knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore *** START: FULL LICENSE *** newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "And I to find an enemy." been with you?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able affection." once more. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are with the outside air!" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." mystery may be cleared along those lines." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. outside. "How about poison?" attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated without a word or a look. tail." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No there has been an enclosure here!" I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter been shamefully used." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, whether it answered to the description of any of their "Perhaps we may make them less so." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "Stoke Moran?" said he. hour." centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a vault. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. chemical work which was so dear to him. the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Witness: It was. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud