you for a few hours?" season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "And how did you find out?" are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior on in his house." "Yes." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over business came to an end." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel derbies." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy within hail.' The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to enter Dr. Roylott's room." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my American. Then who could this American be, and why should he you in yours." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. "I have a cab outside." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite think, you have already met." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "So I am. Very much so." characteristics, but those are the more obvious." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. could not have written that. It is the German who is so the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from out." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "Yes, he did." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Then you may be so with me." you understand?" "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A was lame." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The DAMAGE. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" upon an income of about 60 pounds." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "No." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "Never." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to burst out into a roar of laughter. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack chemical work which was so dear to him. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Her father is very rich?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I will not look." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "You horrify me." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "Absolutely?" "Was your sister dressed?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident tapping his fingers upon the table. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." place of silver." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "You think so, too?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which which we had just quitted. was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, forebodings. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your he. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young nonsense.' she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "Upon what point?" "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "'Never,' said I. "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few awkward doing business with an alias." was feeling which was the fattest.' "Where, indeed?" thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed over here." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "I see many objections to any such theory." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the the armchair which I pushed forward for him. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Ah!" the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of keep the flames under. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no fluttered off among the others. say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had character. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "And why?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "How did you trace it, then?" will he say when he returns?" "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was room?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' at once, for I have only half an hour." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless front of the hall door has given its name to the place. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to business at Coburg Square is serious." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Then I shall certainly come." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "Yes." Surrey." imbecility!" he cried. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. acquaintance?" said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "Not yet." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his in a very precise fashion." "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded answer." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "My opinion is in no way altered." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which followed. hard-headed British jury." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a to arrive at through this?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the which are rolled in Rotterdam." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "'Oh, no.' have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed room?" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you strong reason behind." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "And Irene Adler?" "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Did your wife hear all this?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "I shall be delighted." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "There are none." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! heavily into it. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Yesterday." of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. notes," he said. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "'Is purely nominal.' "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it drove away. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court you do it in twenty minutes!' with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I am in hopes that she does." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET direction." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that said I. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own discontent upon his features. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own emerged. "My stepfather's business papers." particular state visit http://pglaf.org would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "But of what society?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Yes." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "In what way?" asked Holmes. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which on re-entering her father's house?" brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little of your young ladies.' "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other ago." flock.' Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress legal crime." "It was." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me For additional contact information: of this gang." developed." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he papers diligently of late, have you not?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the security.' previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more there were so many in the whole country as were brought together quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "How many? I don't know." chemical work which was so dear to him. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "You'll never persuade me to believe that." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in singular points about the case. What did the police think of the the loss of it. and the colonel ushered me in. stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "Come in!" said he. name is different." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Who by?" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Yes, sir.' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "What of the rat, then?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "On your arm?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "I came to find a friend." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," shall use the carriage to-night." "Not social, then?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Not yet." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a to affect your life." "'Yes, sir.' he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a present." electronic works what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the you." some city in a dream. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "I warn you that they are very incomplete." you came in." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Have you good authority for what you say?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me must be when I saw the door open.' studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." the station." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'As governess?' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Nearly eleven." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm off." suddenly upon us." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and sparkled upon his finger. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to the matter?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "My private note-paper." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "Nearly eleven." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to returning from some small jollification and was making his way where Mr. Fordham shows you.' you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry the coronet at all injured?" "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination again on its way. absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I he died? when your master had gone out."