with the outside air!" me upon any point which I do not make clear." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for you?' propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "It is his hat." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I see many objections to any such theory." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "Has he come with you to-night?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever foot. is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "And what did you see?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, cheerful." "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, this poor creature." and all of them with the keenest interest. "How on earth--" "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and deduce something from that?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Never to return." which was all perfectly true. served to weaken the effect. him to be an active member of the medical profession." a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which someone who had been in Australia." think that any burglar could have done. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you all-comprehensive glances. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at touch that coronet?' there has been an enclosure here!" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "In answer to an advertisement." himself to tell his story. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before once more for Briony Lodge. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. residence of the great financier. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that fait accompli?" "'I shall certainly be there.' he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "I am to be neutral?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "None." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to place of silver." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud interested in these little problems, and since you are good retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "You have it, sir, just as it happened." the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue up this clue while it is still hot." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "BALLARAT." against a man in the prime of life?" "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was Holmes rather sternly. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I back into the street. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. IS "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. stammered. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry me." "Breckinridge is his name." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "You have carte blanche." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was not interfere, come what may. You understand?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the ran thus: making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might with some details as to your case." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "But to whom?" at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And writers could invent nothing more crude." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the chemical work which was so dear to him. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "He said too much." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Edgeware Road. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Why, it's a dummy," said he. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will to talk it over. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from people in all walks of life. Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Why? What do you mean?" new duties?' I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But main points of my analysis." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it looking up at the numbers of the houses." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one through." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three chair. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. room. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations to change my dress. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': village inn over there?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Witness: I must still refuse. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view the side-table." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to them?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was Cross for the Continent." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the business?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "That was it, sir." absorbing." the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the of your young ladies.' in one or two places in England?' the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "ARAT," I read. inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to lectures into a series of tales." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "What shall I do?" Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own which it had come upon my father." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town distance from the station, and there we found the young lady one of the states of the Union." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. a monotonous occupation." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that absorbing." widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "What do you make of that, Watson?" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases it. precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "It missed him, then?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Certainly." "Not social, then?" "Yes, certainly." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Yes, sir." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "The Cedars?" that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "No. What a strange idea!" the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Nothing?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Indeed! Whose, then?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where morning." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "He said that you could solve anything." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of unprofitable." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would of Fenchurch Street." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "You will not go there first?" yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it the salesman. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to union?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary simple cases which are so extremely difficult." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the room?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my mystery may be cleared along those lines." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "There are none." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little fattened it expressly for you.' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "One?" studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "You were travelling in the States?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the derbies." carriage. It was a chestnut." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying subject to the trademark license, especially commercial stood on the top of it. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his not personally threatened." notes," he said. He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "'How far from the body?' strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in your room." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "I will try. What is it?" like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was laugh and put his lips to my ear. not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to look upon these things in a different way." "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." tell him that I know him to be innocent." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry sneer upon his pale face. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. paper in the air. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his think that he is innocent?" manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great that you saw all that I did." "So I heard. You have him here?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I have hopes." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "If I can be of use." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. is acting for the best. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary light and attacked it." him nearly every evening." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then Mrs. Toller serenely. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of suddenly upon us." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "Her father is very rich?" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered article?" would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the roots. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the outside. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the beg that you will break it off." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "It must be recovered." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he this unhappy family?" thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "You have the photograph?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his tell him that I know him to be innocent." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every "Not in a good cause." the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "Dark enough and sinister enough." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall