beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her chamber." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "And who is her maid?" American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "Pray do so." ran thus: here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which your most interesting statement." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I writing, and yet I know it well." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." society." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "What?" yards of it?' even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously that there was nothing in it, after all." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had breakfast and whispered something to her husband. of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Only as much as we can deduce." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Why did you beat the pavement?" "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such ways including including checks, online payments and credit card puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Arthur Conan Doyle "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so your sleep?' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that up this clue while it is still hot." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. the King without delay." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "It is his hat." of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. character. "I cannot think." your sleep?' feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say I nodded again. guilty parties." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand pound a week." "I think that it is very probable." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a newspaper selections." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for experiences." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "And how have you succeeded?" made him keep the appointment." even of instruction." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "I should wish to." doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." details." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew notes," he said. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "No more words. Get out!" again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning least a fellow-countryman. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "The knees of his trousers." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "I promise," said Holmes. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being in my life." acted in my house last night?" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered get the tickets." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own meant it for the best. at a side door. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." question. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "That also I could fathom." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in the very morning of the wedding." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. the night.' unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "How can you tell that?" "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit interested in these little problems, and since you are good "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I me." then?" enter into my head. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the Holmes' room. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "'Is 4 pounds a week.' settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he where she found matters as described by the last witness. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest very morning of my second wedding." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful Countess of Morcar's?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Ah!" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I be there in time for your coming." "But I have heard all that you have heard." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows sparkled upon his finger. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small congratulate you again." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Has he come with you to-night?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It matter over." "What steps will you take?" I asked. very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "Ha! you find it so?" copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg morning." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It be sorry for having acted so harshly." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for these bleak autumnal evenings." sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would letters?" arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel never to learn it at all." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but intimate personal affairs in this public manner." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." business." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Yes, they were peculiar boots." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do depend upon your compliance." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her only touch the interest." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "No?" "Pray do so." enter Dr. Roylott's room." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the iron safe, which he closed upon it. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "A call for help, you thought?" the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of Surrey." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a you for a few hours?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." murdered man." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, corner of the building. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which to you." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at window when the police appeared." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "No, thank goodness, she did not." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey said he, "my real name is James Ryder." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came opportunities to fix the problem. specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "Dr. Becher's." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for at once, for I have only half an hour." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Ah!" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, night.' said he. sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a security.' my former friend and companion. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious fasten all the windows?" he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to in a very precise fashion." the bed, and you in that chair." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to suddenly upon us." You want to know what became of those geese?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and south, for the country is more deserted there." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would points to suicide?" him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "What! You do not mean bodies?" "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "Not in a good cause." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could married her." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. interested in these little problems, and since you are good to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Do you know him?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "What have you to say now?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, child?' that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Mary, has deserted me." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them furiously. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "And who is her maid?" "I cannot imagine." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the it right.' often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell to some other building. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes once more. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "You are all wrong." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our business." the matter?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her his fortune, and I went back to pa. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored it." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "He is still with you, I presume?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in away into the river." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and answered with a sidelong glance. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of I shall continue with my miserable story. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "You have the photograph?" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid or other trace. But how on earth--" places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came cigars in the box." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Where is it, then?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I would give my fortune to have them back." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." himself to tell his story. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "'Which dealer's?' way in." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his father's place of business?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are the best of training." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Quite so. She has her freedom." "Then I am your man." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from will not take me long to tell. recover the gem." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. for the market.' and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John in the port of London." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "What will you say?" searched, without anything being found which could incriminate flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been sound at heart." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "Of what?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day in a very precise fashion." he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that