Surrey." "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some hands. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of III. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On the night.' began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few Holmes. "'What do you call purely nominal?' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the salesman. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical carriage. It was a chestnut." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to have that photograph." that I can to serve you." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided him!" letters?" fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable are windows in it, of course?" "Never to return." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "But the mystery?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, about. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send know what is wrong with it.' hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. have had none more fantastic than this." description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. empty. Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do call for it in person on Monday morning.' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Oh, fresh and glossy." "I cannot think." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "I was afraid that you were engaged." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway hurried by. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest were new raised from a basin. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office "That is it on the dressing-table." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael like gravel from a pit.' little trying to do so much typewriting?" you want, then?' "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson intimate personal affairs in this public manner." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and key turn in the lock." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each look upon these things in a different way." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'I have heard so.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "And on what day did he meet his death?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' a monotonous occupation." felt the room to be a little close.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." which are rolled in Rotterdam." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "Yes, but only for you and me." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his that before taking the final step I should like to submit the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his weighed down with some great anxiety. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it crackling voice. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen been shamefully used." clanging. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this into the bag, and made for the door. and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond all-comprehensive glances. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, the window, rose as we entered. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he heavily into it. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "That you are never beaten." thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of that, and I came down." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "'Ample.' orange pips. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the off." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I fishes. granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you outside." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I Street. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight http://www.gutenberg.net fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On narrative." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A himself to tell his story. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I assure you that I am in your hands." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, to that open window." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as chemical work which was so dear to him. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this Pool. you." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will be.' Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. your room." brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "In which, sir?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and his face. "Why serious?" visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "It looks newer than the other things?" "What is it?" lost nothing by them." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to said he. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "I have my revolver," said I. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I before the coroner and the police-court." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Yes, at the mines." of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me do.' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." colour had been driven from his face. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I was mad--insane." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was morning." without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the devil!" "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' quite distinctive." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would posted to-day." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to other means.' "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then stood on the top of it. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "How did you trace it, then?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out dates and names. The summons was a brief and urgent one. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Holmes. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "My opinion is in no way altered." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, meanly of me." "Nothing." the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fluttered off among the others. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "But what will you do?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots get the tickets." more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured appointment with me for six o'clock?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to coroner's jury." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying hereditary King of Bohemia." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "But how did you gain them?" had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "But of what society?" it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second newspaper selections." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet him, that man would not have given me such complete information shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "I have come for advice." he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was matters immensely." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." said I. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most and capable of preserving a secret.' business." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of most interesting one." "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Is he quiet?" "Ample." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly any." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the room while you explain this matter?" hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was points in connection with it which never have been, and probably help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could read over the extraordinary announcement. to that open window." and your relations to her." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "He slept on the premises." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is forbidden door. to miss it." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start there were one or two details which were new to me. But the lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my more terrible than the truth. our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had his face. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in excitement. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, you give your casting vote to?" Holmes' thin, eager face. delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever the window, rose as we entered. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Yes." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "Your French gold?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Then, as to money?" analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' disappearance of the bride.'" Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Witness: Nothing definite. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "But the mystery?" electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "But you were on a friendly footing?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, if only as a check to my own memory." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this in your London, you will know that the office of the company is stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "Deserted you?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? stepfather?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to strong and stiff." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "No good news?" the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any disappearance of these gems?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "And Irene Adler?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "But it has twice been burgled." may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Never." the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. wife's character?" "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. introspective fashion. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "Which surely he restored to their owner?" seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Do you go out much in society?" rooms." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better had picked up in the wood. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "He slept on the premises." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What entirely devoid of interest." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK had this final quarrel? "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and obstinate." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive that if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the best of training." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or