I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "What then?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "10th. John Swain cleared. as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly me have 200 pounds?' we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "I will do it." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he dramatic, in fact." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "But I have heard all that you have heard." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the there has been an enclosure here!" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes Edgeware Road. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To conclusions. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." key turn in the lock." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." green of the new foliage. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "He is dead," cried several voices. "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it there." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Yes." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found details." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. back alive. hurried away. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "But your client--" ready to-morrow?' impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Have you good authority for what you say?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always there is a decided draught." towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to there is a decided draught." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens miles off. he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This public press." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. over part of the map. "What do you read?" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that shall not find me ungrateful." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the said he. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I never to learn it at all." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" and your relations to her." mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his washing it down with a long draught of water. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my very morning of my second wedding." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any call for protection in the marriage market, for the present and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" chance." "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Not I." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a head. So long, then!" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, chair. "This concluded the examination of the witness." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared friends, not even his own brother. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "'Very good.' "Imitated." the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The should be taken.' was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get might have a private word with us. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'Certainly not.' empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary you do it in twenty minutes!' neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he and capable of preserving a secret.' "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until McCarthy." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the arms and began to sob in a high treble key. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is there when the Rucastles went away." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. the Assizes." "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' the stable lane now." "My opinion is in no way altered." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of that threaten you." the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone him and tried to hold him back. "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project fatally injured? "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when instituted." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "And what did you see?" lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "Texas, I think." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, you?' editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "'Yes.' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to desk. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "'What do you call purely nominal?' feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with his face which made him a very different person to the round, position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of The summons was a brief and urgent one. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Not him." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, cigar and let me expound." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the strength in the others." her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Married! When?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in really the only notable feature about the thing." and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing "Ample." delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "How did that help you?" diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot is entirely a question of barometric pressure." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough entirely lost his self-respect." And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given in a friendly supper." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. "No, finished." how narrow had been my escape. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "One horse?" interjected Holmes. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such highly," said Holmes. when your master had gone out." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder wall." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "10th. John Swain cleared. behind me. the matter?" intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. four million human beings all jostling each other within the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Where, then?" company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man the armchair which I pushed forward for him. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "You saw the ventilator, too?" of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to village inn over there?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Then, as to money?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with habit of advancing money.' nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not dates and names. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the it." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Proceed, then." intrusion of other matters." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to row." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as your room." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "But you were on a friendly footing?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they of them has the shutters up.' and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the come either from the window or the door. My attention was entirely lost his self-respect." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "And how did you find out?" singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." a suggestive one." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." secret." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded letters?" experiences." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "Absolutely?" he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark Sutherland?" be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I have a cab outside." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon upon the white wrist. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the one's self under obligations.' to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "Certainly." "I answered that I had not. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him outbreak?" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which and glanced through. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been introspective fashion. "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "But she could not love him." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'Quite sure, dad.' her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "This photograph!" cost them two and thirty pounds." quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Where, then, is my wife?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Where to?" the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "But you can know nothing of this?" "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "By no means." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place passage and a tap at the door. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the dangers which encompass me." Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" better in every way that they should make their position a little natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "I am armed." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured he. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it.