comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." yourselves in at night?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not paper in the air. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a hand, madam?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots was keenly on my guard against him. my special province." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made think that any burglar could have done. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had to change my dress. miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the south-west, I see." on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this thin, with a long, sharp nose?" from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "It surprised me." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the even so self-evident a thing as that." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the wedding?" done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your very peculiar words of the dying woman?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The stepfather?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott system of imprisonment?" sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "What!" he roared. "At half-wages, in fact." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. points to suicide?" once more to my work. asked. on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Surrey." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "It is true that I have been generally successful." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "'I am sure if I had known--' his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight narrative." said he. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me without success. At last the little money which I had saved began from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and make me his representative both with the servants and with the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "And you can do nothing until then?" generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "No legal papers or certificates?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "No, but the enclosure is." eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "What office?" murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "And for present expenses?" "Texas, I think." "Deserted you?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you late!' hour?' "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's easy-going way." with you alone." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman fattened it expressly for you.' advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business so.' "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Oh, yes, easily." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a not use it unless it is absolutely needed." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' hopeless attempt at recovering them." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure the King without delay." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their murdered man." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I was already answered. "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. like that before?" have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was as noiselessly as she had come. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger troubles have been weighing upon his mind. even so self-evident a thing as that." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I hour?' one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "Murdered?" meant." "No more words. Get out!" 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "You horrify me!" clanging. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy and inquire as to the address." "It is very clear." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, there!' his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Holmes rather sternly. Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "By no means." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "No legal papers or certificates?" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away observed. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached and effective." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that from the brougham. father's place of business?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and and it need not interfere very much with one's other She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "Oh, fresh and glossy." "Dark enough and sinister enough." The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business chance." "Precisely." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "I have my revolver," said I. from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Oh, the cause is excellent!" over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the my little problems." chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should been lifted and conveyed somewhere." someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis hour." formed some opinion?" time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of intimate personal affairs in this public manner." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "No, I had a dozen." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there paper in the air. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is thin legs towards the fire. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the your room." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "There are none." square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "A client, then?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, me. child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the running down." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he of note-paper. It read in this fashion: you do it in twenty minutes!' "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very on re-entering her father's house?" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. tear off another piece?' unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. golden eyeglasses. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." hardly wander." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official becomes even more simple." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been some city in a dream. to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project question you as to those details which seem to me to be most pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out It may be so in this case, also." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own of this gang." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and was feeling which was the fattest.' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. my special province." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Witness: It was. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence and the church but not where the lady lived." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "And now?" He raised his hand. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very prepare for the new role I have to play." all-comprehensive glances. "But how?" grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "A greater distance to travel." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event heavily into it. heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "The vanishing of the lady." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "You saw the ventilator, too?" of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Do you go out much in society?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've green of the new foliage. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding John Swain, of St. Augustine. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Absolutely none." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." case before our client came into the room." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "'Certainly,' I answered. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I visitors." that there was nothing in it, after all." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "'What do you call purely nominal?' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Have you her photograph?" deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, man. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I unprofitable." Miss Holder?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, will not take me long to tell. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you London for the present?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "And did you observe any change in her then?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then that you wished to speak to me?' where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "I see no marks." you?' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our in one or two places in England?' tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's power." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found child?' twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left that I am arrested." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case to surprise her." the best of training." "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Which are?" imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'In my own bureau.' "Married! When?" "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I shall be delighted." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'Yes, I promise.' "I should like to see him very much." "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock ceremony." the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were up this clue while it is still hot." "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon had picked up in the wood. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss in. least a most suspicious remark." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A one which it was hard to resist. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out