fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "But to whom?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "And that is--" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be Sutherland?" Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of test if we have an answer to our advertisement." fuss that is made over them." "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us cause to be." the driver. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No for the market.' information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Of Friday, June 19th." said he. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "I have come for advice." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "It is possible." "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "At half-wages, in fact." either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter ourselves in the office." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "By no means." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the all that?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the iron safe, which he closed upon it. the coronet in his hand?" "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." a monotonous occupation." which it had come upon my father." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll back into the street. even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in again before evening." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all again on its way. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and security.' while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that that I am arrested." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all closely." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "No." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little Serpentine Avenue. the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you sound at heart." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Very. But will he see it?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." correct than the official force." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was place no limit on the sum I may draw." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to test if we have an answer to our advertisement." point in the dark hollow of his hand. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white go--none." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you good for you to do.' At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "'No, I know no one in these parts.' this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have works. See paragraph 1.E below. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at your only hope of safety." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will than was visible to me." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "And your father? Did you tell him?" trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both Leave Paddington by the 11:15." scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that to-night?" I asked. "'Yes, I promise.' sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your again on its way. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any your equipment. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I and put his glass in his pocket. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "Oh, fresh and glossy." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder your bag." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a approach us with offers to donate. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his in the dead of the night?' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time of your young ladies.' The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, discontent upon his features. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Ten will be early enough." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I the matter." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "It is a murder, then?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Yes." Street. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but held up the lantern and gazed about him. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same been shamefully used." been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I strong and stiff." "Yes, sir." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions minor matters until to-morrow." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in Again Holmes raved in the air. you." bell. Holmes whistled. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "Do you go out much in society?" papers diligently of late, have you not?" "I say it is." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "There are none." lectures into a series of tales." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "I was afraid that you were engaged." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. distinguish the words: "How on earth--" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the any." and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without to me. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back that he has suffered." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we your most interesting statement." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "My dear Holmes!" presume?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "My last client of the sort was a king." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this have I gained?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom bird I ate is country bred." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here to tell." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an shall use the carriage to-night." see me here to avoid scandal." before the coroner and the police-court." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again approach us with offers to donate. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "And is that all?" "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too answer." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the coroner come to?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect secret." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of The telegram which we eventually received came late one night pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old http://www.gutenberg.net he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all the King without delay." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." conduct the inquiry." "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "How can you tell that?" the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from green of the new foliage. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but when your master had gone out." in one or two places in England?' outbreak?" "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "Why? What do you mean?" results." do." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped politicians who had been sent down from the North. "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, there has been an enclosure here!" thirty. "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" of the way of danger. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "Now, then, what's the last entry?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open again on its way. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Heh?' to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker Clair, of Lee." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Ah!" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "And help." to you." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is depend upon my doing so.' again on its way. clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'Never.' the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I Clair, of Lee." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, guilty one." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "I do." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "'Which dealer's?' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be with you alone." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that fashion which was peculiar to him. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "But how will you look?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Pray be precise as to details," said he. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings your bag." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From was already answered. "That is not always so easy." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant kindly on the shoulder. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided chambers. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through before the coroner and the police-court." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her locked." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from dramatic, in fact." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built and files of the old papers, following the future career of every this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "I am to be neutral?" "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further late!' to tackle the facts." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a chance." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the there in twenty minutes." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your colonel looking down at me. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the populous neighbourhood." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "He slept on the premises." of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you wall." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "It is a murder, then?" "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "And why?" "He slept on the premises." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" handed it to him. "And you thought he was pulled back?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, stammered. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear