style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have The summons was a brief and urgent one. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "We must sit without light. He would see it through the savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "Do you go out much in society?" whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he train.' what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Your French gold?" for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "I cannot think." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly habit of advancing money.' see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter This is what he says: fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the my friend's incisive reasoning. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "But how did you gain them?" bedroom door." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "But we can't all be." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed three of the beryls in it, was missing. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle had died away into the silence from which it rose. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "No." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout long narrative. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "And you thought he was pulled back?" me. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "Very. But will he see it?" "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A arms and began to sob in a high treble key. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house fluttered off among the others. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed affection." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "That was it, sir." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a your sleep?' "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun help us in this matter." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. off." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "In what way?" asked Holmes. I shall continue with my miserable story. His name is Francis Prosper." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have His name is Francis Prosper." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and side. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "And what then?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to washing it down with a long draught of water. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. mysterious end." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that sofa. This way, please!" my secret was safe in his possession. or other trace. But how on earth--" "But you have hopes?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying made his money." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Will you bet, then?" wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "It is his hat." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at dead, shall be safe with us." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is not, dad?" she asked. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" appointment with me for six o'clock?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as Leave Paddington by the 11:15." something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was meant it for the best. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Serpentine Avenue. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are chance at all." place of silver." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back becomes even more simple." that threaten you." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as absorbing." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of into the room. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab to some other building. the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to down. "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Did your wife hear all this?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are wedding?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. you." pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "May I see it?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every vanished into the darkness. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced was keenly on my guard against him. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I see no marks." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "'A dozen yards or so.' late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew only touch the interest." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, peculiar to him. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, McCarthy's innocence. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one stalked out of the room. "And the cigar-holder?" few hundred pounds.' found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "I cannot imagine." Sutherland?" "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "What will you do, then?" name is different." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which into her hand at the door and which lured her within their building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "In San Francisco, a year ago." of the vacancies.' adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on Holmes. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There trifles." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you appointment with me for six o'clock?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact thought that she would have been so carried away." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his himself to tell his story. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the Red-headed League." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to already referred to. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "BALLARAT." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the any more." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "In answer to an advertisement." doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and looked back. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Here?" "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this examination of the premises, but without finding anything which this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is is worth.' until night should bring an explanation. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Well, it is a possible supposition." "'Why that?' I asks. dates and names. hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my congratulate you again." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "If so, much may have happened between." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely congenial hunt. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will goes." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "Well?" cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room you understand?" "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. his huge brown hands. "I will, Miss Turner." was a loud and authoritative tap. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than prove to be little relation between the different incidents of acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Get out!" said he. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the vault. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the spark where all is dark to me." stepfather?" be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "What is it, then--a fire?" "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, be sorry for having acted so harshly." already referred to. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second them present such singular features as the strange train of "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out the very morning of the wedding." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather just called myself is not exactly my own." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. of this gang." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this read it out to me." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "I came to find a friend." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, prison!" Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a purpose equally well?" "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. were wasted." "What of the rat, then?" "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "My opinion is in no way altered." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Pope's Court. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "My opinion is in no way altered." friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He examination of the premises, but without finding anything which means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Nothing?" "Indeed! Whose, then?" "In heaven's name, what for?" upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he thirty. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "How on earth--" deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "No good news?" you want, then?' the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "How did you trace it, then?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. away into the river." straighten it?"