"Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said gives a meaning to it." gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced do you make of it all?" cause to be." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." appeal." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, some city in a dream. almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Nothing?" as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by conceal it?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an business matters.' was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "We must sit without light. He would see it through the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am it means?" without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "No, I had a dozen." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this any." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. ordinary clothes on?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "If so, much may have happened between." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note to Leatherhead. individual and becomes the badge of a society." I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter tell them apart.' thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "I would pay ten." questionable one." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I do you make of it all?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through then?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "What I expected to see." crackling voice. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the awaited us upon the table. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I was sure that I might rely on you." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what sit on the left-hand side of the driver." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front you in yours." absorbing." "I have come for advice." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "Yes." carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a ceremony." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" eavesdroppers?' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." yourselves in at night?" clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'As governess?' "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "You have a clue?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a occupations.' "Game for a morning drive?" They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "'Entirely.' understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Well, it is a possible supposition." you?' his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "No." villagers almost as much as their master. steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "You forget that I know nothing about it." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." me where it went to?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, Sutherland. of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion what is your own theory as to what took place?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "Dark enough and sinister enough." me where it went to?" emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the "And how?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and could not have written that. It is the German who is so "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than strength." "And what did you see?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake wanted for ourselves." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this him!" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him if only as a check to my own memory." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a are, and they are waiting for us." the King without delay." middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among this remarkable episode. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to forehead. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had than to us. face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and details." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and side. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble your co-operation." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or system of imprisonment?" examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back be sorry for having acted so harshly." disappearance of these gems?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "She walked into the breakfast-room." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. has little to do with my story." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Deserted you?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my you give your casting vote to?" not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's copied or distributed: hand, madam?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry when your master had gone out." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "So I am. Very much so." lamp. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its impression behind it as though a window had gently closed exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "'Where to?' perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Where did he live, then?" "Do you know him?" "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a wedding?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely "Yes." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'As governess?' it." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands with you?" such attractions and accomplishments?' room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send gives a meaning to it." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "And leave your case unfinished?" received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "An enemy?" rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There both be extremely obliged.' have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "But your client--" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, main points of my analysis." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fatally injured? But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do vague figure huddled up in the darkness. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable matter." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "So it appears." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "Ample." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a outbreak?" across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "You saw the ventilator, too?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she the coronet at all injured?" "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "No, distinctly professional." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with do.' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted night.' said he. and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "Yes, I have one waiting." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." to you." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "That is not always so easy." matter." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "You saw the ventilator, too?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "By no means." whole matter to your consideration." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." miles off. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached you for a few hours?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in questionable one." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at again before evening." the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that not personally threatened." "The murder was done with it." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "The murder was done with it." night.' said he. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Then I can wait in the next room." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, carpenter." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." tell him that I know him to be innocent." "I am armed." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he whatever might befall. the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "And your mother is alive?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable someone who had been in Australia." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me quickly through a disagreeable task. I shall continue with my miserable story. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "The doctor?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer was already answered. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Of what day?" fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and