my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard front of me. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view present." II. "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to until night should bring an explanation. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the the stable lane now." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "But I have heard all that you have heard." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "'And what salary do you ask?' "How many? I don't know." "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Why did you pick him?" clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. colonel looking down at me. permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the them present such singular features as the strange train of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there occupations.' would apply.' "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, instituted." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from imbecility!" he cried. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad and the whole place is in a blaze." "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "And I to find an enemy." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the late!' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his Holmes." through." "That is possible." "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed written. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord companion. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and approach us with offers to donate. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to better grown goose." "But how will you look?" "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "Did your wife hear all this?" himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair or other trace. But how on earth--" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. answer." leaning back in his chair. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. criminal. We have already had experience of such." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "You have it, sir, just as it happened." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own upon the white wrist. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, stood on the top of it. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and made his money." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the to affect your life." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "And did you observe any change in her then?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for whether it answered to the description of any of their companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over geese which you supplied to the Alpha." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I do." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "What do you mean?" takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope fasten all the windows?" somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "'Oh, no.' us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon knowledge of the world." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. even so self-evident a thing as that." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "How long did she speak to this Alice?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "I see no marks." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and voice. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Was he the only applicant?" "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Not particularly." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "'What, the red-headed man?' deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." stalked out of the room. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable children over to America with him, so that I found myself without myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my you in yours." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to not as remarkable as your advertisement." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed "'What then?' I asked. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." mystery!" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'There is a drive, then?' poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not foot. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "And I." "And for present expenses?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." giving me time to thank him. "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "And how have you succeeded?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the coroner's jury." fattened it expressly for you.' "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook it with his own hands." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the Assizes." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "One of the highest in England." Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." one of them." squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "No. What a strange idea!" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! grasp, he hurried from the room. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You recover the gem." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out next day. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I developed." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "It is very kind of you." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which went to the Alpha were town bred." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of very morning of my second wedding." never came back." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in man. business." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony brought there to personate someone, and the real person is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you indeed happy." here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and clanging. "'Yes, sir.' quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a himself to hunt down. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long highly," said Holmes. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from meanly of me." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that situation." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything cause to be." cause to be." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near hour?' electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Then, as to money?" untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two is worth.' exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "None. Neville wrote those words." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Countess of Morcar's?" two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Was he the only applicant?" I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the confronted him. who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Your sister is dead, then?" dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Holmes." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Murdered?" but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Yes.' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over swore that no one else had been in the front room during the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, there in twenty minutes." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel coat-tails." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "Yes." "It looks newer than the other things?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and trying to your nerves." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which out of this horrible affair." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question during which he might have communicated with his friend the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "What, then, did Peterson do?" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "The doctor?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm several quiet little villages up there." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" particular state visit http://pglaf.org have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "I should be immensely obliged to you." "The Coroner: What do you mean? unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "And is that all?" "Was she in good spirits?" "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of south, for the country is more deserted there." One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, nothing with him." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a opened the door, and slipped through.