bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. hurried by. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural grasp, he hurried from the room. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "At the wedding breakfast." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel fire. You quite follow me?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a with her." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Where did he live, then?" her also." beyond words. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Certainly not.' destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Stolen, then." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. matter." wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "I do." served to weaken the effect. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you that, and I came down." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can the coronet in his hands?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public morning." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. know that the truth is known." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous Holmes. "I assure you that I am in your hands." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "No, but the enclosure is." "And from a noble client?" laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Ah!" opened the door, and slipped through. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to out of this horrible affair." hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back this Miss Turner." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair seven miles from Eyford Station.' "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the shoulder. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "Yes." pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Murdered?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "Will you go?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I cannot tell." "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "You have the photograph?" the very letters. But what is this written above them?' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "He is dead," cried several voices. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate careless servant girl?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events was already answered. then?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "I cannot as yet see any connection." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." to-night's adventure." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of she has been waylaid. There has been no result." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this geese which you supplied to the Alpha." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and think that any burglar could have done. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he instincts rose up against that laugh. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our wall." police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "What can you not understand?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "That's no good." do.' beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I have hopes." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he and prosperity to your house. Good-night." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'Yes, sir.' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his bled considerably." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get status with the IRS. Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Entirely." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He experiences." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are investigation." out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the there has been an enclosure here!" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. the matter." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Thank you. And your address?" shag which I had seen upon the previous night. room. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may examine." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have the running down." experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort some terrible trap for her." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "And now?" He raised his hand. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst enter into my head. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Yes, at the mines." "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not dramatic, in fact." see me here to avoid scandal." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the think you a quite exceptional woman." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. records." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which carried out of court." "But it has twice been burgled." should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "Never." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "And the murderer?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you 'I should be able to look after that for you.' shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "On Monday." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Pope's Court. Young McCarthy must be got off, however." to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." the matter." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two it." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon an introduction to him?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty my friend's incisive reasoning. "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "What then?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found girl said." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came to-night's adventure." "Of what day?" evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it present." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a bed dies. Does not that strike you?" He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Why, it's a dummy," said he. corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "Yes, but only for you and me." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does ourselves in the office." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to examination of the premises, but without finding anything which insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That his fortune, and I went back to pa. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of point in the dark hollow of his hand. "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some without success. At last the little money which I had saved began power." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been over here." and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It of fine shops and stately business premises that they really "'Never.' "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank digesting their breakfasts at home." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers exactly what you advise." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' views." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "I think it very unlikely." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that strength." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "And how in the world did you find them?" bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they at home. washing it down with a long draught of water. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done not as remarkable as your advertisement." but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though nonsense.' "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that his knees, staring into the fire. "And who is her maid?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "He said that you could solve anything." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's outbreak?" my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very it means?" roused himself from his reverie. "And help." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is rose-bushes. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'Most admirably.' strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Was there a secret marriage?" I leave." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free thirty. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my pressing in one house as in another. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had it means?" Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from has little to do with my story." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': vague figure huddled up in the darkness. beyond words. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" charge against him will break down." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. his eyes and forehead. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and of Fenchurch Street." point in the dark hollow of his hand. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return you, my dear young lady?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be shoulder. This is what he says: forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "At the wedding breakfast." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying