I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of of them has the shutters up.' produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed written, and locked the door of the office after me. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "That sounds a little paradoxical." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me delirious. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Holmes rather sternly. "Perfectly so." days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in nonsense.' himself. whether it answered to the description of any of their in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which enter into my head. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which bearing upon the case." was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "That also I could fathom." subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. get her out of the way." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from one of them." weary and pale-looking. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. disappearance of these gems?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white matter." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our once more for Briony Lodge. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Henry Baker is a member." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "And I." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "'And the work?' you want, then?' lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "My stepfather's business papers." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "To ruin me." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I everything which you would wish to know." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of congenial hunt. "'How far from the body?' "Nothing?" particular state visit http://pglaf.org was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who more terrible than the truth. just called myself is not exactly my own." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Eyford at 11:15.' "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "Then the page we have seen--" name is different." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the interest. They are important, you understand, without being "And how have you succeeded?" room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an deduce something from that?" fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I official police." at once, for I have only half an hour." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom there was no need for father to know." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from experiences." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Nearly eleven." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "Because he was handy and would come cheap." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "You have carte blanche." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, had a long day." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" anything to do with the matter?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock 'please.'" "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case room. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the that he will be back before evening." police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' in a very precise fashion." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "I have my revolver," said I. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." on re-entering her father's house?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called call you and give you the chance." heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Then I am your man." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about round and wave him away like that.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was lips." "I shall most certainly do so." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my 'please.'" took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "But who is he?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent distance from the station, and there we found the young lady a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, shall use the carriage to-night." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a power." more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "'I have already given you my word.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, than to us. to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "What can it mean?" I gasped. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Pray let us have it, for all that." 'please.'" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "I was sure that I might rely on you." said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of fish-monger and a tide-waiter." one of the states of the Union." "What then?" their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the devil!" established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused which our visitor detailed to us. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" arms and began to sob in a high treble key. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one experiences." gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "But how could you guess what the motive was?" what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' drove away. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "Why, what do you mean?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' then?" go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally Holmes rather sternly. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming and it need not interfere very much with one's other quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "What! You do not mean bodies?" pound a week." paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "But what harm can there be in that?" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. and the colonel ushered me in. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent cheerful." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be do." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this again on its way. "I came to find a friend." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "You have carte blanche." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Do you receive much company?" he asked. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was infinite languor in his face. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of served to weaken the effect. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "You forget that I know nothing about it." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible recall any case within my experience which looked at the first will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was business." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was next day. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and no precautions can guard against." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "I will do it." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "But how could you guess what the motive was?" revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "He slept on the premises." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began goes." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but where Mr. Fordham shows you.' The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set trying to your nerves." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Never." "Quite so." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed man. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "Precisely so. But how--" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a colonel looking down at me. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that figure." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly over with notes and figures. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which night.' said he. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. the King without delay." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his that I am arrested." it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. must be when I saw the door open.' you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over in darkness. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "'How far from the body?' error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "From his hat?" "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in she used." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the some terrible trap for her." "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "'And what are they worth?' I asked. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "I should be immensely obliged to you." she to prove their authenticity?" annoyance, but no jest. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Certainly." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "My private note-paper." thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Why? What do you mean?" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Why did you pick him?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Yes." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'"