you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "My own seal." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come as noiselessly as she had come. "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "I am armed." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in writer." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an my secret was safe in his possession. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts soul! here is her carriage at the door." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where grasp, he hurried from the room. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than indiscretion." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear like gravel from a pit.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very weigh very heavily upon my conscience." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid straightened it out again. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. own family. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then been lifted and conveyed somewhere." your most interesting statement." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial hopeless attempt at recovering them." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to there!' "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon seem to you to be relevant or not." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, stood on the top of it. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and for securing the situation." success. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the Assizes." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case questioning and rather startled gaze. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "And why?" "And why?" "Where, indeed?" passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Can I be of assistance?" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "Yes." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the redistribution. forehead. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. The events in question occurred in the early days of my shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that appeal." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "I cannot think." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "Then I do not see the point." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Yes." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Pray do so." "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just back into the street. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. to-night." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless upon the sideboard." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' of the vacancies.' "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to shall use the carriage to-night." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I should be immensely obliged to you." in my life." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That signal between you and your father? once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her did not hear it also.' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "I have my revolver," said I. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Stolen, then." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, room had already been engaged for us. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Your presence might be invaluable." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, in his hands." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it had formerly been in part my own. "Holmes, the busybody!" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a later, upon the night of May 2nd." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "The vanishing of the lady." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must lumber-room." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "It is very clear." "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the started for the Temple to see my husband. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "No." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the noting anything else of interest. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "By all means." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland shall use the carriage to-night." visitors." "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you girl said." golden eyeglasses. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "By train from Waterloo." The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "10th. John Swain cleared. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Well, some hundreds of times." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke and looked back. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but humiliation." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Where did he live, then?" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" "Yes, but only for you and me." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, and wait." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, chamber." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of and put his glass in his pocket. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at bled considerably." "There are none." "Pray do so." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near her also." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "On your arm?" when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, Where does the thing come from?' "Then he might have called to you?" "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I tail." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "He is dead," cried several voices. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of held up the lantern and gazed about him. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "My opinion is in no way altered." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the devil!" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" "To an English lawyer named Norton." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the address that was given us in the advertisement. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you to-night?" I asked. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a had formerly been in part my own. province." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a light and attacked it." strength in the others." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old during which he might have communicated with his friend the unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to head. So long, then!" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the dangers which encompass me." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been During two years I have had three consultations and one small "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare breakfast?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or was used.' blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect to a more successful conclusion." remarked. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too affair. "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "My photograph." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the joking. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried for and were ordered to this address. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can been able to understand it, in a very few words. "At half-wages, in fact." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a closely." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Precisely." attention." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it we went to search for him, face downward in a little that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a plantation.' stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "You horrify me!" wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Pope's Court, Fleet Street." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "Proceed, then." "Not I." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Where did he live, then?" its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and my little problems." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he that he has suffered." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited himself to hunt down. suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most outside. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater are windows in it, of course?" your equipment. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing late!' get her out of the way." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "What can you not understand?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "What have you to say now?" "But his left-handedness." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored was shining brightly. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We hour." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his companion. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Certainly." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing his cane at the bell-pull. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might not come at once?" it. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed