King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "'It is locked up,' I answered. before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "Dr. Becher's." this as likely?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell closing the door. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little stood on the top of it. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Is he quiet?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "And how in the world did you find them?" sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "'I have already given you my word.' tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "He said too much." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "I will try. What is it?" "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite stammered. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "What do you mean?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic you in your example." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the address that was given us in the advertisement. yet." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the with the outside air!" forehead. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He retorted upon me, and I on you." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away woman." have accepted such a situation. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the fatally injured? of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He meanly of me." "But of what society?" unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and gentleman's clothes. rooms." face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "And now?" He raised his hand. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was you came in." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not vanished into the darkness. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "But how will you look?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely Henry Baker is a member." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'Certainly,' I answered. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and shall probably return to London by the evening train." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that Dr. Gregory B. Newby the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Certainly." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "But your client--" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. would then never go into court at all." to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as photograph a cabinet?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much be best to do. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a address. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to emerged. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, into the room. Leadenhall Street--and--" abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical Street. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "'What then?' I asked. into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for that, and I came down." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Very truly yours, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." fishes. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "It is his hat." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "It is very clear." the driver. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was such attractions and accomplishments?' into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about plantation.' - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some delighted to hear it," he said. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a to you." "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "I don't say that. Perhaps." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every heavily into it. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Yes, there are nearly always some there." really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Imitated." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed fatally injured? authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Witness: I must still refuse. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special 1.F. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, you understand?" "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "But how could you guess what the motive was?" as yours." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon and your relations to her." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "You forget that I know nothing about it." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" coroner's jury." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "And what did you see?" "So it appears." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. ready to-morrow?' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. official police." very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite to have that photograph." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I he. figure." "None." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by place no limit on the sum I may draw." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, completely overtopped every other consideration that we both why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their questioning and rather startled gaze. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before appointment with me for six o'clock?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair had this final quarrel? "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple less than 26s. 4d. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "What!" he roared. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open enough to aid us in our search." and capable of preserving a secret.' to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with may have an influence upon European history." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which of the vacancies.' my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his I nodded again. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were excitement. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as that, and I came down." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "'I have already given you my word.' English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "Here?" whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Quite so. She has her freedom." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window to tell." will take you up to see the machine.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, "Deserted you?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a or other trace. But how on earth--" "'Certainly not.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. front of me. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Certainly." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had closing the door. "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the of this gang." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange to-night's adventure." "Has he come with you to-night?" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A definite end. and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "To an end?" "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was back into the street. that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind of this gang." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we in. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the together. "Of what day?" They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Why did you beat the pavement?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "No?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange prison!" daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "What do you make of that, Watson?" quick march!" circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that companion imperturbably. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to secret." "The vanishing of the lady." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do ill-usage at the hands of fortune. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "No bad?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a all that?" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the in the hope of finding them." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed ago." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Oh, yes, easily." "I assure you that I am in your hands." begun to whiten, even as mine has." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "But you were on a friendly footing?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but in one or two places in England?' with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found http://www.gutenberg.net strength in the others." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending 1.E.9. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "What can you not understand?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just union?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three will take you up to see the machine.' "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with breakfast." "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more that you saw all that I did." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "None." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through upon the sideboard." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have was keenly on my guard against him. "I was afraid that you were engaged." A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope,