quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Sholtos." "And what did you learn from him?" was a loud and authoritative tap. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter chill to my heart. there has been an enclosure here!" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said Clair, of Lee." yards of it?' here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure his huge brown hands. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I don't believe it." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "And you thought he was pulled back?" "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "Game for a morning drive?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "'I am sure if I had known--' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Yes." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, bare slabs of marble. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "On your arm?" self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Proceed, then." case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in of them has the shutters up.' "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "No. His orders were to stay in the house." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On people in all walks of life. "It is no ordinary one." system of imprisonment?" Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my standing smiling on the door-step. nonsense.' horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that villagers almost as much as their master. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are wanted for ourselves." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "'About the same.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "That is easily got." breakfast." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I will, Miss Turner." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "A greater distance to travel." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the that I can to serve you." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door threw himself down with his face to the pillow. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called possible that we could bring him back to her? skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, was not a bird to be seen there. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "'You cannot say what it was?' chance at all." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes forebodings. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little certainly not very gracious." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "Certainly." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the forehead. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission your only hope of safety." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he tassel actually lying upon the pillow. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen to miss it." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an stepfather?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a visitors." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his people in all walks of life. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near arms and began to sob in a high treble key. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works of receipt of the work. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the room while you explain this matter?" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "Yes, there are nearly always some there." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." me where it went to?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for minor matters until to-morrow." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until begun to whiten, even as mine has." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "What steps will you take?" I asked. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into and inquire as to the address." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "I fear not." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped appeal." "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Yes, I have one waiting." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before article?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it bearing upon the case." "My last client of the sort was a king." right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic it? Did I buy the geese off you?" distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "If I can be of use." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a cost them two and thirty pounds." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Texas, I think." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend man. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my comes from the middle window." anything to do with the matter?" middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, him. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "The Coroner: What do you mean? and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Who by?" and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. was feeling which was the fattest.' disappearance of the bride.'" of this gang." dramatic, in fact." "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can in my life." peculiar to him. "Then how many are there?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can was it brought him the coronet? The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of the inquest, and which are worth considering." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "I was afraid that you were engaged." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "It is a murder, then?" "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "And you can do nothing until then?" she used." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "What shall I do?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Was there a secret marriage?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of there were one or two details which were new to me. But the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and I approached. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with amused." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural do.' may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I recover the gem." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an 'please.'" be.' of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "An accident, I presume?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love young Openshaw's." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Has he come with you to-night?" stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am with you?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may locked. what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account had picked up in the wood. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "On Monday." anything to do with the matter?" confronted him. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our cup of tea. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding and that he would see to anything that turned up. and put his glass in his pocket. "And how in the world did you find them?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'Ample.' centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to lamp. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can you give your casting vote to?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a was lame." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: to take care of herself." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists tear off another piece?' will take you up to see the machine.' "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "What then?" I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that outsides of the windows. Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Entirely." "Then I do not see the point." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "To an English lawyer named Norton." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences any." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "Where to?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of despaired of." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush which our visitor detailed to us. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would ago." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "It is solved." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "'And what are they worth?' I asked. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; when your master had gone out." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the posted to-day." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the allusion to a rat. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Pray let us have it, for all that." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital out." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Then, as to money?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an his cane at the bell-pull. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." despaired of." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a of Fenchurch Street." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "The best possible." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Have you good authority for what you say?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense article?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the "What! You do not mean bodies?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned his forehead." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had papers." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in light and attacked it." wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of coat-tails." orange pips. "Then, how do you know?" unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "How did that help you?" impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of point in the dark hollow of his hand. relief. to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock of the vacancies.' the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive ventilator." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Never to return." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a