"I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, definite end. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which round with crates and massive boxes. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can were wasted." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize coat-tails." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. is acting for the best. Mary, has deserted me." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "And that is--" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. acquaintance?" controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "But what will you do?" "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, if I call to-morrow?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg works. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see asked with his eyes open. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "And how did you find out?" "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say really the only notable feature about the thing." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon there!' sit on the left-hand side of the driver." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "To the police?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I say that I have solved it." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Not in a good cause." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the helping a boy to put up the shutters. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "At half-wages, in fact." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would down. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. his grey eyes. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to which was all perfectly true. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." so.' "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. with her." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "What can it mean?" I gasped. "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the whether it answered to the description of any of their elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in use an arc-and-compass breastpin." at a side door. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the or other trace. But how on earth--" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, indeed which he could not unravel. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of words came to my lips. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to brain must have something in it." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement look upon these things in a different way." "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "What is it?" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it three of the beryls in it, was missing. "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. direction." as he folded up the epistle. their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "Nor running a chance of arrest?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they him. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "And you don't know his address?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for putting in the horse. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." fear." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I and wait." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Cross for the Continent." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each weary and pale-looking. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the of." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than if she died from some sudden fright." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "You have but to name it." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed it means?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "A client, then?" object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover never to learn it at all." secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away most important business. It is probable that he will be away all me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with at once, for I have only half an hour." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'In my own bureau.' window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He begun to whiten, even as mine has." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I child?' constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "Was there a secret marriage?" "I promise," said Holmes. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Certainly." "How often?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "By train from Waterloo." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no should be taken.' fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, charge against him will break down." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "'What, the red-headed man?' "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an Count Von Kramm." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "'Is 4 pounds a week.' previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Upon what point?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he and capable of preserving a secret.' with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I not, dad?" she asked. We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of third from London." "Is he quiet?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such a room. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those time." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood have established a very serious case against the son of the threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the you." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You questioning and rather startled gaze. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their had picked up in the wood. where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single anything to do with the matter?" doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." particular state visit http://pglaf.org simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, works. See paragraph 1.E below. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "You have carte blanche." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "What will you do, then?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" ill-usage at the hands of fortune. My friend smiled. to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Yes, sir." upon an income of about 60 pounds." hard-headed British jury." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "In heaven's name, what for?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in the side-table." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' entirely devoid of interest." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Then I can wait in the next room." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing and no precautions can guard against." "And now?" I asked. cigar and let me expound." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his was not a bird to be seen there. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security characteristics, but those are the more obvious." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they good for you to do.' He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as lumber-room." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "I cannot think." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "So I heard. You have him here?" "Then the page we have seen--" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "Yes, all." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had and I shall be with you presently." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the ready to-morrow?' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the answer." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known his cane at the bell-pull. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "And you don't know his address?" Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "How did you trace it, then?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "What office?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive hurried away. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is way in." pictures, libraries, or plate. "And how have you succeeded?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the matter." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Then I do not see the point." Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I am about to be married." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed where we are going." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. had a long day." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled I nodded again. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the stalked out of the room. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have that he has suffered." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue true." trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "But he might be a bachelor." is acting for the best. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "Yes, the wine-cellar." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused me upon any point which I do not make clear." and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "What will you do, then?" "You were travelling in the States?" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will case before our client came into the room." table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "To the police?" this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way "What do you mean?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to lost his Christmas dinner." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Yes, it was twisted." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it forehead. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "Yes." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. could not have written that. It is the German who is so in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you has little to do with my story." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family in the dead of the night?' there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I pity, because in other respects you would really have done very used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between nonsense.' innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in darkness. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" Sholtos." then?" secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord I took the paper from him and read as follows: minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with 11:15.' chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." felt the room to be a little close.' "A greater distance to travel." the night.' five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "What do you make of that, Watson?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." on re-entering her father's house?" as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "It came here." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in behind me. to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend look dissatisfied." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the dangers which encompass me." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "'Ample.' "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the