skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Count Von Kramm." my special province." be.' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is depend upon my doing so.' while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'And the work?' me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "I will get her to show me." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." in this way: double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked brought there to personate someone, and the real person is desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the off." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a detective. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "That also I could fathom." shall not find me ungrateful." certainly not very gracious." desk. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my your only hope of safety." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect hand, madam?" are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. these bleak autumnal evenings." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I lips." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond to his chemical studies. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. coat-tails." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. read over the extraordinary announcement. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of you, my dear young lady?' believe that I should never have any practice at all. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE recover the gem." His name is Francis Prosper." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was what these perils are?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps thirty. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. ready to-morrow?' characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from our word." "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Can I be of assistance?" very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he experiences." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more drove away. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "And did you observe any change in her then?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in country, and eventually married, without anyone having a I held the little printed slip to the light. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all a few minutes he said that it would be all right. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water already referred to. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "VIOLET HUNTER." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his begun to whiten, even as mine has." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "It is no ordinary one." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, the roots. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. emerged. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were "The best possible." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long singular points about the case. What did the police think of the deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his of the way of danger. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He come either from the window or the door. My attention was beg that you will break it off." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "When did she vanish, then?" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the must be when I saw the door open.' expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune impression behind it as though a window had gently closed A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is the coronet at all injured?" on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, breakfast." 11:15.' hands. "About a month then." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net and the church but not where the lady lived." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It was an hour's good drive." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "A confidential servant?" "I am all attention, madam." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and late." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "You have a clue?" upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his coat-tails." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right nonsense.' introspective fashion. "I am to be neutral?" King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but hopeless attempt at recovering them." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the in his hands." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. criminal. We have already had experience of such." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. get her out of the way." at my own good fortune. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "And why?" could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "So I am. Very much so." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "You'll never persuade me to believe that." himself. "Never." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself public press." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a existence." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "It's nothing of the kind." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. way in everything. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Leave Paddington by the 11:15." what is your own theory as to what took place?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "I cannot as yet see any connection." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would them?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the American. Then who could this American be, and why should he or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where papers." which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress murdered man." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the the address that was given us in the advertisement. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have quickly through a disagreeable task. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of electronic works delighted to hear it," he said. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own of Fenchurch Street." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I never have." relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. believe that I should never have any practice at all. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of highly," said Holmes. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "And how have you succeeded?" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a once more on the important position which you have been fortunate companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. cause to be." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Yes, but only for you and me." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little it with his own hands." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Game for a morning drive?" interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "Yes." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little which it had come upon my father." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "You don't mind breaking the law?" Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "But to whom?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I answered with a sidelong glance. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the house with me." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of been able to understand it, in a very few words. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I definite end. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "None. Neville wrote those words." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which think that any burglar could have done. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "I don't believe it." "I have my revolver," said I. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to the inquest, and which are worth considering." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for morning." "When did she vanish, then?" distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." introspective fashion. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you attention." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to written. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in kindly on the shoulder. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City with the outside air!" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I am to be neutral?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "It is his hat." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such will he say when he returns?" and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the your billet.' "Where, then?" question," said Holmes, smiling. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "How many? I don't know." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "He said that you could solve anything." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger train from Paddington which would bring you there at about considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations not as remarkable as your advertisement." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some hereditary King of Bohemia." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "What! Had he lost his wife?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the cost them two and thirty pounds." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. remarked. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else