the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "What then?" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "To an end?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." dramatic, in fact." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the union?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "By all means." excitement. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait your billet.' them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "BALLARAT." gbnewby@pglaf.org have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre your most interesting statement." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face acted in my house last night?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us Serpentine Avenue. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of people don't know." secret." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Only as much as we can deduce." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our I held the little printed slip to the light. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one to tackle the facts." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is crowd. returning from some small jollification and was making his way side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my observed. the best of training." "I cannot imagine." deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a 11:15.' prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right stalked out of the room. our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his bird of prey. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" floor. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been was shining brightly. trifles." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was "I see many objections to any such theory." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the overpowering excitement and concern. How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "How do you know, then?" As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where point our research must commence, and we will begin it by was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a crackling voice. "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern during which he might have communicated with his friend the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing The note was undated, and without either signature or address. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "What! a murderous attack?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and spark where all is dark to me." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" papers on the sundial.'" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. something of him before." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'Is purely nominal.' and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, away in different directions, and I went off to make my own broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a the address that was given us in the advertisement. His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "It is possible." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, Does that suggest anything?" adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open quickly through a disagreeable task. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "You will not go there first?" Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that me have 200 pounds?' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, the window, rose as we entered. the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with back into the street. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Cross for the Continent." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE crowd. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "'Which dealer's?' it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in and inquire as to the address." national property. I was determined that the law should have its "Well?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you if I call to-morrow?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Pray do so." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "And sit in the dark?" "'Yes, sir.' forbidden door. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the Red-headed League." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly less than 26s. 4d. go--none." "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "I will get her to show me." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from cup of tea. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the get her out of the way." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "That is unusual in a young girl." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend as this. Pray let me have the details." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes himself to hunt down. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we completely overtopped every other consideration that we both breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your call for protection in the marriage market, for the present police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. point in the dark hollow of his hand. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and his face which made him a very different person to the round, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and noble correspondent could be. "I say it is." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "What will you do, then?" the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your best detective that ever lived. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I see many objections to any such theory." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then secret." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "Then, as to money?" wife's character?" muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the felt the room to be a little close.' upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Perfectly so." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid himself. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "A thing like a cleaver," said he. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Not at all. I only doubt--' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Well?" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "It is possible." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then could not account in any way for the presence of the missing habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from stepfather?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still business at Coburg Square is serious." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a will be renamed. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "My opinion is in no way altered." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered have I gained?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," wedding?" this unhappy family?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "It was an hour's good drive." do.' prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Yes. He waved his hands." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, for its centre. train.' one of the states of the Union." of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "'I am sure if I had known--' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In are, I think, all that we need." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having there is a decided draught." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still morning." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. the window, rose as we entered. other, as fresh and trim as possible. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, beyond words. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Not yet." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a impression behind it as though a window had gently closed unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course you came in." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to my special province." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'What are you doing there?' he asked. indeed which he could not unravel. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be standing smiling on the door-step. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition once more for Briony Lodge. afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be how narrow had been my escape. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed been lifted and conveyed somewhere." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "No, my brougham is waiting." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Arthur Conan Doyle "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. go back?" "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "How did he come?" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "But your client--" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Who by?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Well, some hundreds of times." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the eat it." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "'I am sure if I had known--' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on plantation.' sneer upon his pale face. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father kind enough to tell me what I should do." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the