as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," you." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the made him keep the appointment." him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or death." "In San Francisco, a year ago." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "So I am. Very much so." "'How far from the body?' which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank just called myself is not exactly my own." did not hear it also.' hardly wander." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the house for five minutes.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in photograph?" "Not in the least." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle bonnet, and went out." and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I cannot as yet see any connection." carried out of court." time." "I am about to be married." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other upon the white wrist. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Then I am your man." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before asked. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from questioning and rather startled gaze. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of roused himself from his reverie. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or had formerly been in part my own. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. returned to France?" on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my hard-headed British jury." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is became a certainty. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, formed some opinion?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting His name is Francis Prosper." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Witness: Nothing definite. his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about this man was intellectual?" the King without delay." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double and all of them with the keenest interest. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy made his money." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest him, that man would not have given me such complete information begin with, and I had not got mine yet." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as some terrible trap for her." as he folded up the epistle. Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that girl said." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Not particularly." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and DAMAGE. difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental is entirely a question of barometric pressure." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at present strange and interesting features that it is no easy certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked client, rising. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have than was visible to me." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all about. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in papers." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall you?" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then ago." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel voice, changing her seat as requested. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner delirious. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and looked back. out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the made him keep the appointment." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between Project Gutenberg-tm works. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, would then never go into court at all." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for be there in time for your coming." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "And is that all?" his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to exactly what you advise." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon him nearly every evening." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the Miss Holder?" maid will bring up your coffee." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of look upon these things in a different way." "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a must be when I saw the door open.' blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "You know me, then?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or to his chemical studies. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "I will try. What is it?" I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he him and tried to hold him back. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found of note-paper. It read in this fashion: still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all little trying to do so much typewriting?" bare slabs of marble. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the whereabouts. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "It is solved." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Doctor, of the paper and the date." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed once more. this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was formed some opinion?" and glanced through. Heh?' through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled tied." conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly your sleep?' Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his triumphant cloud from his cigarette. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "That is not always so easy." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was singular points about the case. What did the police think of the back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Now, then, what's the last entry?" Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now tension within him. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram intimate personal affairs in this public manner." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "How can you tell that?" "What can you not understand?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the matter." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the least a fellow-countryman. London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a there!' "This photograph!" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is him." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Oh, yes, easily." "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Well, it is a possible supposition." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be other means.' "It is possible." round with crates and massive boxes. been with you?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you a very grave face. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he them?" news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "Not yet." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "None." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We some city in a dream. minor matters until to-morrow." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the had this final quarrel? "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That I leave." "No?" "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then I nodded again. "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "Tired-looking or fresh?" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "It is his hat." of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Certainly." adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the coronet at all injured?" have an American origin." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, my friend's incisive reasoning. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the inner apartment." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger and inquire as to the address." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "Where, then, is my wife?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me with some details as to your case." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of you want, then?' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his people don't know." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in of the way of danger. Holmes rather sternly. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." becomes even more simple." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "It is very clear." nonsense.' which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it as yours." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to married her." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'And what are they worth?' I asked. the station." get her out of the way." "What of the rat, then?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution know all about it," he snarled. States. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "Always." from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too