"It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil I shall communicate with you." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' outside. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I am about to be married." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "His face fell immediately. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was me. You must get home instantly and act." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "'Is 4 pounds a week.' beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Watson," he said cordially. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as heavily into it. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat have had none more fantastic than this." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, said he. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if some terrible trap for her." Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "'Which dealer's?' sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Holmes. "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "My dear Holmes!" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving place of silver." appeared upon the scene." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the woven round him. copied or distributed: not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "What, then?" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help or in danger--" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "None." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned address. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I his eyes and forehead. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to help us in this matter." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. spark where all is dark to me." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "The King of Scandinavia." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with your room." very old mansion. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "So I have heard." "Very. But will he see it?" unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she introspective fashion. guilty parties." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Proceed, then." but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "Yes." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "Her father is very rich?" array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Pray continue your narrative." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. round and wave him away like that.' arms and began to sob in a high treble key. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work fatally injured? My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "Your presence might be invaluable." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your there were so many in the whole country as were brought together too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'Never.' My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw them?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my "None." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss My friend smiled. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and straightened it out again. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "I am about to be married." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the several quiet little villages up there." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, electronic works red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, British peeress.'" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very gone. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of in the hope of finding them." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the to change my dress. I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of are, and they are waiting for us." "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "You have carte blanche." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "A call for help, you thought?" "The best possible." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it upon the shelf for the interim." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather envelope. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted friend's singular character. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against she has been waylaid. There has been no result." at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" presented more singular features than that which was associated down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the so far?" address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until galvanised. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two down from London to inquire more deeply into it." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Was your sister dressed?" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are derbies." nonsense.' cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for forbidden door. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly giving me time to thank him. as this. Pray let me have the details." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his public press." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Quite so. She has her freedom." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. sooner or later she must fall a victim. days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Yes, he did." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Why did you pick him?" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the You want to know what became of those geese?" one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been learned something! Where are the gems?" "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "'What are you doing there?' he asked. sooner or later she must fall a victim. yet." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We woman who has had her own way to make in the world. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of and I shall be with you presently." "What can you not understand?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose then?" midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "I am sure." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, throat." mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had of campaign. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there invisible to me," I remarked. We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its what do you think they found in the pockets?" "I am all attention, madam." "Then, how do you know?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he fasten all the windows?" where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know have one." indeed which he could not unravel. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because me where it went to?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for fishes. can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a was a lad." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which me." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any opened a pocket-book and took out a note. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "By all means." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your had died away into the silence from which it rose. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had o'clock is it?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." crackling voice. call it cruel." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. to-night." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" of it with the greatest attention. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." opened the door, and slipped through. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round them, and came down just as you departed. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and them, and came down just as you departed. conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Then, how do you know?" a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "Come in!" said Holmes. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "'And the work?' whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and nights." it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "I shall most certainly do so." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "'And the work?' he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the to tell." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the go from here to the Strand." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the country, and eventually married, without anyone having a hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Yes?" me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried he died? plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "Just look it up, then." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding and glanced through. breakfast?" "You will not go there first?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad