wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and British peeress.'" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. province." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more advice." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no reach." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it are, and they are waiting for us." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very at my remark. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' nights." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Did you become engaged then?" succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I do.' few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it constraint." the coronet at all injured?" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the fat-encircled eyes. coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "I cannot imagine." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole as yours." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed do.' grasp, he hurried from the room. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. prison!" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "A client, then?" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of any more." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "You have carte blanche." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his in a friendly supper." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "What can you not understand?" "My own seal." usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a will take you up to see the machine.' "I will not look." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of call you and give you the chance." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she feature." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! business at Coburg Square is serious." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than the coroner come to?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my danger is over." "Then I shall certainly come." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. details." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "On Monday." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "The doctor?" that I can to serve you." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, a room. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Oh, yes, easily." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Yes." matter." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came to miss it." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the colour had been driven from his face. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon was once confined in the cab my mission was practically immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. hour." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a mysterious end." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "It is a murder, then?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is had formerly been in part my own. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed do you make of it all?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. for the market.' cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already existence." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Perfectly so." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has "'Yes, sir.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the inner apartment." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my to miss it." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "Thank you. And your address?" Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "In San Francisco, a year ago." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'There is a drive, then?' sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies society." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Well?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the date of his supposed suicide." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his other means.' flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "In what way?" asked Holmes. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf was a lad." X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to made his money." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my fled together." Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and address. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper became a certainty. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to look dissatisfied." "'Yes, it was gone.' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "I see many objections to any such theory." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been depend upon my doing so.' my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun very old mansion. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "My opinion is in no way altered." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a not, dad?" she asked. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies any little problem which you may submit to me." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had chair. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there is four-and-twenty." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "'Certainly,' I answered. morning." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of is acting for the best. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs Mrs. Toller serenely. and glanced through. villagers almost as much as their master. and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Then how many are there?" for the market.' "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "'Ten to two.' "Then the page we have seen--" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "In which, sir?" "It is true that I have been generally successful." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. astonishment. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his bearing upon the case." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until the window, rose as we entered. eavesdroppers?' "We were both in the photograph." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, subject to the trademark license, especially commercial works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow new duties?' roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "Then I do not see the point." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are goes." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "When did it break out?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought discontent upon his features. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Eh? What was that?" "Then I am your man." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a companion quietly. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "What! You do not mean bodies?" Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose happened." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Perhaps we may make them less so." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the shall use the carriage to-night." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of forebodings. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to beyond words. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of easy-going way." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the I am not easy in my mind about them." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "You forget that I know nothing about it." said he at last. own family. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "Deserted you?" "My photograph." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my remarked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your completely overtopped every other consideration that we both answer." chamber." read over the extraordinary announcement. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover cost them two and thirty pounds." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "A call for help, you thought?" gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Entirely." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hurried away. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, I took the paper from him and read as follows: destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'What are you doing there?' he asked. to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, forehead. "But his left-handedness." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the I leave." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of I am not easy in my mind about them." which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Not particularly." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the meanly of me." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "In what way?" asked Holmes. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Precisely." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "He is still with you, I presume?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed it? Did I buy the geese off you?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "How about poison?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "And I to find an enemy." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "Yes." "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, soul! here is her carriage at the door." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the running down." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "At the wedding breakfast." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "If I can be of use." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old "How did you deduce the select?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for "I cannot imagine." evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter.