compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a God! What an exposure! What can I do?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "And leave your case unfinished?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "No." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from the morning and make my own way in the world.' "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "My own seal." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for everything which you would wish to know." "Bought." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the dangers which encompass me." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that is worth.' was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." trifles." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of question. "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich that, and I came down." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "He said too much." "Of what?" severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, him, that man would not have given me such complete information "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give his forehead." "I see many objections to any such theory." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly row." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "What of the rat, then?" carried out of court." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some depend upon my doing so.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab go back?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, some mystery and the punishment of some crime." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Chief Executive and Director key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had room. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the south-west, I see." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, is acting for the best. "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Murdered?" "Did you observe the colour?" about. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "What, then, did Peterson do?" stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "I cannot imagine." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this to that open window." "Not social, then?" The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs unprecedented a position." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to in a friendly supper." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home events, Mr. Windibank!" three fields round his house, and there he would take his America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "Never." see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." it with his own hands." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the stones. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round me. You must get home instantly and act." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Was there a secret marriage?" loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "'Certainly not.' "On your arm?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "Do you receive much company?" he asked. lost nothing by them." never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Nothing?" nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "Then he might have called to you?" Holmes." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more unprofitable." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling burst out into a roar of laughter. bird of prey. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One not personally threatened." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. of his shoulders. with you alone." the station." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who it right.' "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly excitement. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and carried out of court." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all too. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Well, but China?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "My dear Holmes!" so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed even so self-evident a thing as that." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, lost his Christmas dinner." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing most interesting one." "Entirely." by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he breakfast and whispered something to her husband. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the to-night?' "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "Ah!" "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "To an end?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Will you bet, then?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall fear." have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in to surprise her." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his rat could hardly pass through." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent but preventing her from injuring another. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back lumber-room." The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which this poor creature." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the his face which made him a very different person to the round, get her out of the way." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring that I can to serve you." a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked see a sister of mine apply for." something of him before." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" again on its way. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for cigars in the box." glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Has he come with you to-night?" case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "'I have heard so.' feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "You think so, too?" The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "And leave your case unfinished?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the writing, and yet I know it well." "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a lips." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, Heh?' light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "The landlord of the Alpha." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion entirely lost his self-respect." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all gbnewby@pglaf.org end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of weapon." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "Just look it up, then." "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know window when the police appeared." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Yes?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally Count Von Kramm." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "It's nothing of the kind." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "What shall I do?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the written, and locked the door of the office after me. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of bare slabs of marble. ago." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, manager. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "One of the highest in England." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and populous neighbourhood." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I shall not find me ungrateful." at my remark. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning God! What an exposure! What can I do?" uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with once more. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we as he folded up the epistle. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it was a perfect sample of the class. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever matter over." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year she to prove their authenticity?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover himself to hunt down. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had on re-entering her father's house?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? me have 200 pounds?' cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses have one." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined over here." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some cause to be." "So I am. Very much so." of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram his huge brown hands. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "What is it?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "There are none." notes," he said. and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune as yours." yourselves in at night?" "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Nothing." he died? astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand them?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a asked with his eyes open. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "Absolutely none." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still only touch the interest." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with developed." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no a very grave face. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Yes, the wine-cellar." fire. You quite follow me?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was obstinate." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By