Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I am following you closely," I answered. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage back into the street. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, one of them." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "No sign of it?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle but preventing her from injuring another. is four-and-twenty." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." she might be summoned. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to newspaper selections." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he criminal. We have already had experience of such." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. knowledge of the world." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in round with crates and massive boxes. http://gutenberg.net/license). had died away into the silence from which it rose. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been tapping his fingers upon the table. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me tapping his fingers upon the table. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "What shall I do?" It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms to arrive at through this?" them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or six. Come in!" "My last client of the sort was a king." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "You have but to name it." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." investigation." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" enter Dr. Roylott's room." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who manager. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "But you were on a friendly footing?" do.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at felt?" slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard bled considerably." of receipt of the work. once more. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The kind enough to tell me what I should do." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "'Ample.' produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is derbies." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, your equipment. and inquire as to the address." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him little trying to do so much typewriting?" vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other against a man in the prime of life?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the front of the hall door has given its name to the place. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away most interesting one." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, rooms." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to and put his glass in his pocket. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and his cane at the bell-pull. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad call you and give you the chance." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge have not had my rubber." hand, madam?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." into the room. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a tear off another piece?' although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Do you know him?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of daring than any effort of the imagination." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "You have carte blanche." "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the during that time.' he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide bonnet, and went out." scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "I have a cab outside." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Street. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Here?" "To ruin me." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began man. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "And I." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to sufficient punishment." but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the posted to-day." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must was used.' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "And how did you verify them?" the room while you explain this matter?" this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried him, that man would not have given me such complete information dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "What do you make of that, Watson?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "But I am all in the dark." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Dr. Becher's." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the walking." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the that?' It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of formed some opinion?" Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day you." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out to that open window." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and standing smiling on the door-step. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because both be extremely obliged.' "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left dear old homesteads?" over his head with a sweet womanly caress. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." burst out into a roar of laughter. penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing one which it was hard to resist. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Why did you beat the pavement?" new acquaintance to Baker Street. which are rolled in Rotterdam." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." several quiet little villages up there." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my know all about it," he snarled. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "My own seal." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism in. against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the coronet in his hand?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 I nodded to show that I had heard. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the companion quietly. reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the driver. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a said I. George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to foot. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the of the way of danger. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when goes." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. vault. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, You want to know what became of those geese?" article?" certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how ill-usage at the hands of fortune. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it from you?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is minor matters until to-morrow." sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine which are rolled in Rotterdam." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "None." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "How can you tell that?" "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I chemical work which was so dear to him. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. Leadenhall Street--and--" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'Ample.' however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in pity, because in other respects you would really have done very to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. green of the new foliage. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the weigh very heavily upon my conscience." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A him. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No mysterious business." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his just called myself is not exactly my own." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a with frightened eyes at his accuser. suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I shall not find me ungrateful." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten delighted to hear it," he said. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the driver. "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in events, Mr. Windibank!" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Sholtos." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "And why in hopes?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a annoyance, but no jest. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a weapon." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' the Red-headed League." "Where did you address your letters, then?" mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such ill-usage at the hands of fortune. you." Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Breckinridge is his name." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Dirty?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my you." music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes envelope. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy