remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been carriage. It was a chestnut." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable affair. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Then I am your man." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the King without delay." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "You have it, sir, just as it happened." papers must be those that are destroyed.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "It missed him, then?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and Where does the thing come from?' the stable lane now." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "It missed him, then?" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my matter." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see the very letters. But what is this written above them?' been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of laugh and put his lips to my ear. the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed your equipment. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard memory. absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, his face. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of place no limit on the sum I may draw." "I think that it is very probable." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, which we had just quitted. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at crackling voice. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You think that he is innocent?" "And why?" other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Certainly." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. floor. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in his face which made him a very different person to the round, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "Yes, that is the Crown." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted in your London, you will know that the office of the company is The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "I have solved it." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, him nearly every evening." married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "My private note-paper." "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still man. Eyford." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "And you don't know his address?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a ordinary clothes on?" young Openshaw's." excitement. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "BALLARAT." "My private note-paper." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "It is possible." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" to miss it." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that to you." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at would apply.' "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time chill to my heart. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who tell me that you intended to go into harness." I have it here in my museum." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one a few minutes he said that it would be all right. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "No." rat could hardly pass through." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George mystery!" throat." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "'Certainly,' I answered. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was murdered man." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I better grown goose." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "How often?" "Then the page we have seen--" shoulder. individual and becomes the badge of a society." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Eyford at 11:15.' carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish My friend smiled. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked my friend's incisive reasoning. the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was chill to my heart. is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "'No, I know no one in these parts.' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Precisely." "A client, then?" "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "And how have you succeeded?" half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to to talk it over. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his noble correspondent could be. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "We were both in the photograph." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "But she will refuse." approach us with offers to donate. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible your own bird, so if you wish--" something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of putting in the horse. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had fasten all the windows?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "No." you in your example." "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in little adventures." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Do you know him?" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted politicians who had been sent down from the North. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "Here?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a said I. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "Then, how do you know?" had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to purpose of examination. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. Count Von Kramm." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "Very much so." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his for and were ordered to this address. that?' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the formed some opinion?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your away to you." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you obstinate." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for occupations.' and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Get out!" said he. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "Look there!" said he. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of address. And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a morning." "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "How about poison?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me sit on the left-hand side of the driver." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The said I. "My own seal." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say in my life." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning presented which may be striking and bizarre without being actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "It missed him, then?" "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so with frightened eyes at his accuser. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Your sister is dead, then?" which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a strode off upon his way. hair?' "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been This is what he says: slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which him. was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not if she died from some sudden fright." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant have established a very serious case against the son of the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation that he will be back before evening." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "No." scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "Then I shall certainly come." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not the morning and make my own way in the world.' difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. hour." him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the room. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the o'clock is it?" "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much been lifted and conveyed somewhere." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done desk. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It is very clear." think that he is innocent?" few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "Just look it up, then." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but to tell." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "The rest you will leave in our hands." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "'Tell me all about it,' said I. of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." existence." a very grave face. moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Yes, sir." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Street. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A and looked back. ventilator." "I have come for advice." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural in darkness. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking them?" well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally I have it here in my museum." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master on re-entering her father's house?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Holmes' face clouded over. about. "Entirely." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a the bed, and you in that chair." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at could gather together that I was able to avert another public never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send him." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the mysterious business." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of important." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Certainly, madam." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was again before evening."