large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second national property. I was determined that the law should have its stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have 1.F. I am not easy in my mind about them." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'Yes, sir.' "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as Henry Baker is a member." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." off." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "'Why that?' I asks. his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying ordinary clothes on?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I should be immensely obliged to you." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure From what you have told me I think that it is possible that to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Then I am your man." At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "My dear Holmes!" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and way in everything. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very From what you have told me I think that it is possible that form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest chill to my heart. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Bought." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, true." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own which are rolled in Rotterdam." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be I. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three 11:15.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you more solid." your own bird, so if you wish--" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Nothing?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin interested in these little problems, and since you are good pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt intrusion of other matters." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. carried out of court." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position formed some opinion?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman this Miss Turner." humiliation." "Perfectly so." Stoke Moran." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab highroad, where all traces were lost. "'Then let me do so?' "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close said I. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as mysterious end." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "How do you know, then?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the photograph?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a I was concerned in it." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'Most admirably.' daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the writer." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "Oh, fresh and glossy." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got the coronet in his hands?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "Look there!" said he. leave you to your papers for a little." look upon these things in a different way." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are away in different directions, and I went off to make my own way in everything. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project your room." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he depend upon my doing so.' sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it three fields round his house, and there he would take his heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but this unhappy family?" "In heaven's name, what for?" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Yes, sir." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an him nearly every evening." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change chair. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "And on what day did he meet his death?" "VIOLET HUNTER." you for a few hours?" an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her note?" o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "It was an hour's good drive." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "And on what day did he meet his death?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' all that?" Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "BALLARAT." think, you have already met." gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "We must have a cab." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "Very murderous indeed." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the bonnet, and went out." hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "By no means." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "No." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "What of the rat, then?" planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Well, it is a possible supposition." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "But the mystery?" "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Munro.' which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the stones. own family. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will instituted." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be skylight. about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of brain must have something in it." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on papers." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had your sleep?' if only as a check to my own memory." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "But you can know nothing of this?" putting in the horse. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "I cannot imagine." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than the Red-headed League." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would forehead. absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite Leave Paddington by the 11:15." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" his face which made him a very different person to the round, "That is possible." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Precisely so. But how--" "The Cedars?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for are, and they are waiting for us." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have "Who by?" "My last client of the sort was a king." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "But not more so than I to find you." me. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Then, as to money?" "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I Pool. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "You did not overhear what they said?" clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here upon a handsome competence. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' help us in this matter." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been photograph?" about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps ashen face. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I to affect your life." been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the general public were present, then?" Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the enter into my head. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they be there in time for your coming." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "How often?" children over to America with him, so that I found myself without Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his returning from some small jollification and was making his way I shall continue with my miserable story. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid it were putty." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were little trying to do so much typewriting?" with the outside air!" "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he of his shoulders. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "The decline of his fortunes, then?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the date of his supposed suicide." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his in the dead of the night?' overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the devil!" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. observed. fatally injured? It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more tell me that you intended to go into harness." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the child." empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "Yes." with some details as to your case." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then of his shoulders. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Why serious?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The that he has suffered." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "That is possible." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End standing smiling on the door-step. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my the address that was given us in the advertisement. to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. fluttered off among the others. and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up which it had come upon my father." and your relations to her." Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "What can it mean?" I gasped. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it young Openshaw's." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a behind me. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging carpenter." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Ah, but I was recommended to you." other means.' there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door think that he is innocent?" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his your equipment. I. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without the child." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At knowledge of the world." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent go--none." surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Why, what do you mean?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as It may be so in this case, also." a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to kind enough to tell me what I should do."