first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Mrs. Toller serenely. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'In my own bureau.' home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by overpowering excitement and concern. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "I am still in the dark." late!' national property. I was determined that the law should have its or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, ceremony." newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. must be when I saw the door open.' daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with detective. she might be summoned. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. suspect him." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight best detective that ever lived. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "That is it on the dressing-table." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. outbreak?" "Bought." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is the date of his supposed suicide." "You think that he is dead?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in more solid." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "'And what salary do you ask?' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "How are you getting on?" his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for conclusions. claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I would give my fortune to have them back." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a placed his cuttings. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up direction." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in touch that coronet?' employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent not, dad?" she asked. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. visitors." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become said he. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Serpentine Avenue. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I notes," he said. a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the License. You must require such a user to return or introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Do you know him?" front of me. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was Eyford at 11:15.' I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his shall not find me ungrateful." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his late!' machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "Where, then, is my wife?" have accepted such a situation. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up notes," he said. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "And why?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own bed dies. Does not that strike you?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow ordinary clothes on?" with her." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' electronic works breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened most interesting one." "Oh, yes, easily." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Street. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City make me his representative both with the servants and with the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to affair. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very thought that she would have been so carried away." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It the salesman. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "I think that it is very probable." Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a again, where I was soon asleep. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and do." unprofitable." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as less than 26s. 4d. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Holmes' thin, eager face. delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "None." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "'I am sure if I had known--' other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Never to return." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" room had already been engaged for us. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "But who is he?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the "The Cedars?" was a perfect sample of the class. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in fashion which was peculiar to him. locked. "Where, then?" seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal foresight and the moral retrogression?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined been." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "But to whom?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "What then?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, with her." young Openshaw's." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, these bleak autumnal evenings." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Why serious?" "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" man. I know him from the photograph." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "A client, then?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "Yes, but only for you and me." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, power." gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know that better in every way that they should make their position a little "Married! When?" his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with weapon." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be read it out to me." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid to-night." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give we went to search for him, face downward in a little any more." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had to affect your life." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be sooner or later she must fall a victim. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was galvanised. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. that I may have something better before very many minutes are the little opening for the ventilator is." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you whatever might befall. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, guilty one." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' everything which you would wish to know." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but my special province." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was woven round him. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "You heard nothing yourself last night?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates arrangements." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in go--none." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Stoke Moran." "Come in!" said Holmes. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" charge against him will break down." Again Holmes raved in the air. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "I fear not." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal been anything against him. He had for years been known as a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Witness: It was. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss derbies." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his the morning and make my own way in the world.' to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Sutherland. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any opportunities to fix the problem. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had very old mansion. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the ceiling. she to prove their authenticity?" surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, very peculiar words of the dying woman?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left written, and locked the door of the office after me. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about public press." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time round and wave him away like that.' his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE was shining brightly. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very distinguish the words: he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life triumphant cloud from his cigarette. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "I will, Miss Turner." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." were new raised from a basin. "I cannot as yet see any connection." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'I am sure that I do not know.' that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "You have but to name it." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the