slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "It must be recovered." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "My opinion is in no way altered." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. over part of the map. "What do you read?" examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me The telegram which we eventually received came late one night endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I answered that I had not. "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how south, for the country is more deserted there." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Perhaps we may make them less so." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is a murder, then?" the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "There are none." I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Street. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the Project Gutenberg-tm works. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate of the way of danger. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "You forget that I know nothing about it." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an to Leatherhead. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who considering the formidable letters which were received by himself prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the problems help me to do so." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his guilty one." recover the gem." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire she used." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the brandy and water within his reach. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not strength in the others." that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in me. without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, keep the flames under. "My own seal." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is suspect him." of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on derbies." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with plantation.' of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how returned to France?" bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "You will not go there first?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Seven!" I answered. that there was nothing in it, after all." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I have seen the police." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black as he folded up the epistle. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found power." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid fact, we may call it conclusive." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not not come at once?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you figure." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "You don't mind breaking the law?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" morning." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. interest. They are important, you understand, without being "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you begin with, and I had not got mine yet." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said bed dies. Does not that strike you?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, and have this put in the evening papers." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said John Swain, of St. Augustine. I held the little printed slip to the light. dramatic, in fact." Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but back alive. round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have unkempt, staring out at me. cost them two and thirty pounds." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "My dear Holmes!" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have For additional contact information: "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Did you observe the colour?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few to-night?' Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him pictures, libraries, or plate. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love crowd. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, thirty. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, all that?" "Why did you pick him?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across mysterious end." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And you can do nothing until then?" amused." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not death." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "I see many objections to any such theory." from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a of them has the shutters up.' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. gives a meaning to it." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this several quiet little villages up there." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are entirely lost his self-respect." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Entirely." "No, but the enclosure is." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, and a shock of very red hair. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the my friend's incisive reasoning. before, for it was considerably after midnight. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Yes, but only for you and me." one of them." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" me upon any point which I do not make clear." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "What! You do not mean bodies?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I coroner's jury." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when invisible to me," I remarked. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good was a perfect sample of the class. conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "'A dozen yards or so.' standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Pope's Court. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. used to be." the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who have not had my rubber." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his second window is the one that I jumped from." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to business?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's it." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "Perfectly so." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Sholtos." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Certainly." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Stolen, then." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. said he at last. way in." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "'Most admirably.' "It is solved." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' this unhappy family?" it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of coat-tails." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced she to prove their authenticity?" yet." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the station." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "And how did you find out?" In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Absolutely?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "And what then?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "But who is he?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His kindly on the shoulder. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on companion quietly. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left sofa. This way, please!" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the stepfather?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "And how have you succeeded?" in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "'Then let me do so?' business?" "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "This photograph!" but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I official police." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as "'Ten to two.' "But I am all in the dark." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "To an English lawyer named Norton." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." his fortune, and I went back to pa. "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. believe that I should never have any practice at all. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, read over the extraordinary announcement. veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight absorbing." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' man. I know him from the photograph." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet for its centre. "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "How are you getting on?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually so.' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." is so. I know all about McCarthy." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Witness: It was. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On seen the man in the road." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "It is very kind of you." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the so far?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" questioning and rather startled gaze. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the happened." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." to a light-house. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man business." lamp in his hand. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "But his lameness?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "But it has twice been burgled." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I constraint." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. from the brougham. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Why, what do you mean?"