"This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House you in yours." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from quite distinctive." It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the to tackle the facts." you." "'Why that?' I asks. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and put his glass in his pocket. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the devil!" was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any shall use the carriage to-night." "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "Yes?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "He might." there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for The note was undated, and without either signature or address. mysterious business." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal present." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Was she in good spirits?" preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and writing, and yet I know it well." safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Pray tell us what has happened to you." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "I warn you that they are very incomplete." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that for its centre. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together province." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "It is solved." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing "'In my own bureau.' were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all beyond words. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small them?" "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business few hundred pounds.' soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Have you it here?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and I am not easy in my mind about them." without a word or a look. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. to a light-house. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "I see no marks." salesman. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from off." "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they main points of my analysis." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "'Then let me do so?' made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and Sutherland?" "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "And I." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "I think that I had better go, Holmes." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "But you would not advise me to refuse?" her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very or in danger--" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to placed his cuttings. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's about here speaks of his kindness to him." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, his face. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue drove away. "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan grasp, he hurried from the room. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may you in your example." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of better in every way that they should make their position a little "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. have not had my rubber." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "And sit in the dark?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "But she could not love him." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the possible that we could bring him back to her? "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I narrative." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man investigation." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did narrative." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their look dissatisfied." "How about poison?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the looking up at the numbers of the houses." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the second." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the For additional contact information: If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away leaning back in his chair. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "You horrify me." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land away into the river." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "What!" he roared. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here noise which awoke you from your sleep?" But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Nothing." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Just look it up, then." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would investigation." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, knowledge of the world." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with everything which you would wish to know." remarked. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "I think it very unlikely." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained help us in this matter." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon light and attacked it." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "No, thank goodness, she did not." answer." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "And I say east," said my patient. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an or in danger--" "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you to you." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "The gentleman I describe." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of heavy and sharp instrument." Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "And how did he make his money?" "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. these bleak autumnal evenings." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their over his head with a sweet womanly caress. no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was felt the room to be a little close.' "Yes. He waved his hands." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, once more. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "None. Neville wrote those words." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of place of silver." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his even of instruction." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "In which, sir?" our word." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Here?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it strength." have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Get out!" said he. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be you found me to-night--and running through the front room she upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it "My private note-paper." "I never have." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "'What then?' I asked. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "And why?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a your only hope of safety." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "She will not sell." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Yes, at the mines." case-book, which he consulted. groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to would then never go into court at all." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "That was it, sir." my secret was safe in his possession. dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, suddenly upon us." leaning back in his chair. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I letters?" very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "My Mary? Impossible!" maiden herself was most instructive." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." threw himself down with his face to the pillow. Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my Miss Holder?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his hour." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "What! a murderous attack?" bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door putting in the horse. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were floor. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when burst out into a roar of laughter. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "In which, sir?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and read it out to me." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of careless servant girl?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. have not had my rubber." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "It was." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused you in your example." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I