of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he will not take me long to tell. "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend in. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "I fear not." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." fuss that is made over them." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." new acquaintance to Baker Street. on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I questioning and rather startled gaze. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. use an arc-and-compass breastpin." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "None." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "But of what society?" served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I yourselves in at night?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat your troubles." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "What then?" Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "None." he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little read over the extraordinary announcement. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my I nodded again. his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the sparkled upon his finger. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been any." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. there is a decided draught." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London advice." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand young Openshaw's." "I am to be neutral?" "What will you do, then?" "How often?" States. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all prison!" had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Will you bet, then?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "A greater distance to travel." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him evidence," I remarked. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Yes." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely case-book, which he consulted. records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a prepare for the new role I have to play." more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a pound a week." and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." any." set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." better grown goose." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Miss Holder?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you vault. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." hair?' which I could not give. He asked for Alice. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Why, it's a dummy," said he. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was simple cases which are so extremely difficult." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed the one as in the other." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and him to be an active member of the medical profession." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it indeed which he could not unravel. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" forbidden door. other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "Eh? What was that?" St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty tied." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a cigars in the box." "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could bore every mark of being an average commonplace British noble correspondent could be. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Why, what do you mean?" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We next day. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his trifles." my secret was safe in his possession. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. at my own good fortune. of Mr. Rucastle's." examine." groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations I have it here in my museum." showing my impatience. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Here?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, she used." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in details." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled perplexity from it to my illustrious client. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I stood on the top of it. he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the page at http://pglaf.org anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had the morning and make my own way in the world.' despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our call for it in person on Monday morning.' the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "No, I had a dozen." ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable that he has suffered." success. rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Can I be of assistance?" "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third me where it went to?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "'As governess?' on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "I should wish to." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a habit of advancing money.' bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Pray continue your narrative." weighed down with some great anxiety. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to forbidden door. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "'And what salary do you ask?' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon crackling voice. the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous notes," he said. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. in him." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all friend's singular character. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen went to the Alpha were town bred." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "Yes, certainly." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are gone before you can get him to hospital." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way relation between them, and what the object of his repeated note?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of Edgeware Road. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the that threaten you." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while later, upon the night of May 2nd." our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "What steps will you take?" I asked. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Certainly." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who Dr. Gregory B. Newby have accepted such a situation. before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Leadenhall Street--and--" introspective fashion. planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion test if we have an answer to our advertisement." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we it right.' boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Then how many are there?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." villagers almost as much as their master. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting "The gentleman I describe." him. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. to-night's adventure." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'I shall certainly be there.' "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Quite so. She has her freedom." following enigmatical notices: that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." way in everything. explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence there was no need for father to know." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you morning." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in wall." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "And how in the world did you find them?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into For additional contact information: Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked carpenter." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was companion. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "And how did you verify them?" his fortune, and I went back to pa. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see swore that no one else had been in the front room during the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from I took the paper from him and read as follows: WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "What! You do not mean bodies?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant respectable self." comes from the middle window." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled overpowering excitement and concern. smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Never." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter where she found matters as described by the last witness. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of considering the formidable letters which were received by himself collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a and no precautions can guard against." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on silent! Oh, he will be silent!' letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and tension within him. "Pray continue your narrative." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must threw himself down with his face to the pillow. benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have when you have done it." be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her heavily into it. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "It looks newer than the other things?" pound a week." only touch the interest." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." is acting for the best. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the absorbing." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was that?' sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young said Mr. Holder. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional upon the white wrist. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must straightened it out again. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and capable of preserving a secret.' morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "It is his hat." is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on his eyes and forehead. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I am following you closely," I answered.