as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Witness: I must still refuse. an introduction to him?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and as the one I chose?' over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is will take you up to see the machine.' of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood careless servant girl?" his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "Certainly." nights." retorted upon me, and I on you." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of a room. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good back alive. King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "I have solved it." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, late." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that what is your own theory as to what took place?" the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a call it cruel." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "'Entirely.' guilty parties." "It was." "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. not personally threatened." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, from you?" were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know closing the door. tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "Then, how do you know?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so have accepted such a situation. not fit the lock." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely brandy and water within his reach. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'And what salary do you ask?' "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon too. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich lost his Christmas dinner." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of the child." appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are delighted to hear it," he said. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed good-night and bustled off upon her way. imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham to-night?" I asked. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no individual and becomes the badge of a society." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and would then never go into court at all." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the DAMAGE. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. corner of the building. after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out to-morrow." "Tired-looking or fresh?" a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was bed dies. Does not that strike you?" assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of Doctor, of the paper and the date." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time something of him before." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way one of the states of the Union." "Is he quiet?" have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from about here speaks of his kindness to him." security.' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so The summons was a brief and urgent one. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Eyford." the child." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a coroner's jury." matters immensely." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'I am sure that I do not know.' the child." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The golden eyeglasses. and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "You will not go there first?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower views." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by me where it went to?" letters?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' gone. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Have you her photograph?" "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Precisely." hurried away. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "Yes." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in and shall probably return to London by the evening train." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, your own bird, so if you wish--" "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "It missed him, then?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his door?" common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Her father is very rich?" fuss that is made over them." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "What! Had he lost his wife?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is annoyance, but no jest. "No. What a strange idea!" heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "This concluded the examination of the witness." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. affair. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "You don't mind breaking the law?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if of Fenchurch Street." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "But you can know nothing of this?" you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several union?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless with frightened eyes at his accuser. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. might help us?" this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband once more. to some other building. "No more words. Get out!" a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the you found me to-night--and running through the front room she evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she outsides of the windows. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover pity, because in other respects you would really have done very Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The into her hand at the door and which lured her within their through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "What, then?" a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' you." "Yes." written. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to problems help me to do so." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my impression behind it as though a window had gently closed Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which What do you deduce from it?" this man was intellectual?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the tightly behind him. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Yes." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "I see no marks." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of the address that was given us in the advertisement. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of breakfast." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "But I am all in the dark." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "I see no marks." the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face to his chemical studies. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the nothing of it?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "What then?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge interests were the same as his." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the there when the Rucastles went away." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something legal crime." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Yes." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry his forehead." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, we went to search for him, face downward in a little "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his bled considerably." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a to-night's adventure." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "What will you do, then?" hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. questionable one." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "No, I think that I'll take it." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "That was it, sir." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "In what way?" asked Holmes. "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me be there in time for your coming." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on of it with the greatest attention. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the roots. He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen will be renamed. leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. voice, changing her seat as requested. "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "What shall I do?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "I was certainly surprised to find you there." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into light and attacked it." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. mysterious business." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." wanted for ourselves." interested in these little problems, and since you are good "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall chamber." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense Clair, of Lee." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been appeal." "And that is--" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I my special province." that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the infinite languor in his face. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past instituted." before the coroner and the police-court." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own little trying to do so much typewriting?" such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual if I call to-morrow?" adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook second window is the one that I jumped from." best detective that ever lived. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it developed." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, to a more successful conclusion." repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "You know me, then?" The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He salesman. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door photograph a cabinet?" next day. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "About a month then." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Well, but China?" from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At