myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "But you have hopes?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he to tell." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after me." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest and prosperity to your house. Good-night." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "You know me, then?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry other means.' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for searched, without anything being found which could incriminate sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country since then to throw any light upon what became of him." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle bell. Holmes whistled. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. of your young ladies.' The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Yes, he did." the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have cigars in the box." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, strength." "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' His smile broadened. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our this poor creature." strong reason behind." with frightened eyes at his accuser. "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your she has been waylaid. There has been no result." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "And did you observe any change in her then?" not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, you?" waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered heavily into it. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: you." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and put his glass in his pocket. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but in him." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate place of silver." "I cannot tell." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was in his hands." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one formed some opinion?" side. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very nonsense.' nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Has he come with you to-night?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "And is that all?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "Stoke Moran?" said he. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. trifles." even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, a little more before I quite committed myself. present." lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another is," said he presently: Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "It was a confession," I ejaculated. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just and put his glass in his pocket. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in woven round him. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in already referred to. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined of it with the greatest attention. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two shag which I had seen upon the previous night. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "What do you make of that, Watson?" has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, in his hands." better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and was a loud and authoritative tap. I have it here in my museum." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the chambers. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the lectures into a series of tales." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "The Coroner: What do you mean? no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "I have seen the police." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some You want to know what became of those geese?" several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for shoulder. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the of the vacancies.' "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "I shall be delighted." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from fattened it expressly for you.' "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "But how?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which 1.F. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss closing the door. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the ways including including checks, online payments and credit card too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "My dear Holmes!" about. "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "What do you make of that, Watson?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. hereditary King of Bohemia." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would it were putty." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three death." was used.' know what is wrong with it.' As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Whose house is it?" idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an know that the truth is known." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? that you wished to speak to me?' I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the him nearly every evening." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so there were one or two details which were new to me. But the entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "A confidential servant?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "She walked into the breakfast-room." The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. yourselves in at night?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the believe that I should never have any practice at all. "The vanishing of the lady." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, nights." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been help us in this matter." "Is he quiet?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "Of what?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously as the one I chose?' him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. face and glided from the room. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so chemical work which was so dear to him. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "Not I." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right that the gas is not laid on in his house?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "It surprised me." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has done what I asked you, Jones?" See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's closing the door. "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you stepfather?" Street. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Pray do so." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia disturbance in my wife." Clair, of Lee." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "He slept on the premises." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper very old mansion. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Witness: I must still refuse. helping a boy to put up the shutters. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I gbnewby@pglaf.org lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "It is his hat." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read on re-entering her father's house?" though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly in a very precise fashion." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "You have it, sir, just as it happened." individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer opened the door, and slipped through. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able gone before you can get him to hospital." "'Ample.' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between come either from the window or the door. My attention was what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Yes, all." "What office?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would something of him before." "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Where did he live, then?" in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, on in his house." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen upon the sideboard." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "'A dozen yards or so.' heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective here." the salesman. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in notes," he said. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his our word." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to it with his own hands." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'I am sure that I do not know.' adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country Pope's Court. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should 'please.'" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she in this note: could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Why serious?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "My dear Holmes!" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He to-night?" I asked. "My stepfather's business papers." really the only notable feature about the thing." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds