"No, no, the mystery!" I cried. Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting knowledge of the world." again." "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "And Irene Adler?" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "Certainly." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and me. You must get home instantly and act." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. upon an income of about 60 pounds." outsides of the windows. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Yes, there are nearly always some there." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was companion. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I highroad, where all traces were lost. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "And I to find an enemy." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. head. So long, then!" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I think that it is very probable." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter spark where all is dark to me." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "By no means." who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to unkempt, staring out at me. there was no need for father to know." her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "By train from Waterloo." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. tell them apart.' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I seen the man in the road." vanished into the darkness. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next them?" fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, too. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." such person." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Ample." upon the sideboard." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Nothing." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "And I say east," said my patient. emerged. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the you came in." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The touch that coronet?' and no precautions can guard against." purpose of examination. one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." any." place, I think that there is good ground to think that the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must you found me to-night--and running through the front room she that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "'I am sure that I do not know.' done what I asked you, Jones?" abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her to go into your room and bar your shutters?" which our visitor detailed to us. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "An accident, I presume?" a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the the coroner come to?" His name is Francis Prosper." not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "He said that you could solve anything." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I McCarthy's innocence. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He garden below. man. "Then how many are there?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "What then?" XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Eh? What was that?" every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My his knees, staring into the fire. from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are said I. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "10th. John Swain cleared. mystery!" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed I nodded to show that I had heard. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I Where does the thing come from?' "'Never,' said I. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "You have the photograph?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "How did he come?" Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "None." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had could go. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it in the port of London." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "No, distinctly professional." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." has little to do with my story." of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all I. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Yes. He waved his hands." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Why? What do you mean?" "By no means." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the roots. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "I was mad--insane." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "What then?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of man. I know him from the photograph." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had DISSOLVED. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far read it out to me." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. other means.' "Why, what do you mean?" Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an conversation I have gathered that they have been married about half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Eh? What was that?" "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe problems help me to do so." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, his eyes and forehead. happened." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the them present such singular features as the strange train of There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to sake, don't!" "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "How are you getting on?" Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been them?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "By all means." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must been." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "What have you to say now?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from became a certainty. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been best detective that ever lived. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I have solved it." generous with you in money matters.' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of suddenly upon us." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' in this way: "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' "'Yes, sir.' it right.' I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past the dangers which encompass me." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and you." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon appointment with me for six o'clock?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project important." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Two days later this same performance was gone through under paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." as this. Pray let me have the details." will not take me long to tell. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" spark where all is dark to me." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is writers could invent nothing more crude." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he questionable one." With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "'Where to?' "Proceed, then." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Precisely so. But how--" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Game for a morning drive?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "And you don't know his address?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." kindly on the shoulder. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent weary and pale-looking. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "What will you do, then?" pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of writer." "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no him. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and mystery." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "It surprised me." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the bottom.' an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and said he. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which the nursery. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in round and wave him away like that.' Pope's Court. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments point our research must commence, and we will begin it by enter Dr. Roylott's room." As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." me where it went to?" time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have to a more successful conclusion." wedding?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather him and tried to hold him back. results." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger the inquest, and which are worth considering." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "'Quite sure, dad.' mysterious end." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun to where he stood hid behind the curtain. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck house for five minutes.' "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper perplexity from it to my illustrious client. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other you in your example." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "Then the page we have seen--" examine." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, into her hand at the door and which lured her within their studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "No?" have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "What! a murderous attack?" stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the have an American origin." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "What do you make of that, Watson?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might leaning back in his chair. "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, like gravel from a pit.' honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where breakfast?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one business matters.'