this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let yourselves in at night?" "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of photograph?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left heavily into it. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent But Holmes shook his head gravely. time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "At half-wages, in fact." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest will find little credit to be gained out of this case." The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his desk. main points of my analysis." "But the mystery?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "But his lameness?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. taking in every detail of the apartment. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still searched, without anything being found which could incriminate perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "To an end?" impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of business." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with States. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I window when the police appeared." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "To an end?" signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to rat could hardly pass through." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the client, rising. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San certainly do as you advise." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to voice, changing her seat as requested. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I warn you that they are very incomplete." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the ill-usage at the hands of fortune. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For heavily into it. round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "And you thought he was pulled back?" travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "About a month then." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into shag which I had seen upon the previous night. habit of advancing money.' know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "Why serious?" forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Yes. He waved his hands." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "But what will you do?" St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any weapon." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "One of the highest in England." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Of what day?" follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and "Then I shall certainly come." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I and inquire as to the address." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed go from here to the Strand." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his you?' to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Nothing." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows been anything against him. He had for years been known as a garden below. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "It is possible." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and effective." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you unkempt, staring out at me. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but he. mystery." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face of a light. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham jewels which you have stolen?' which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while you want, then?' be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his himself to tell his story. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned you for a few hours?" discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, sofa. This way, please!" in the dead of the night?' be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward to his chemical studies. more solid." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said about. "Precisely so. But how--" of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried The events in question occurred in the early days of my upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day present." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Dr. Becher's." hour?' THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have my secret was safe in his possession. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are golden eyeglasses. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, over with notes and figures. "An enemy?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "And Irene Adler?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, gentleman's clothes. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the very morning of the wedding." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas affection." "He might." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "You are certainly joking, Holmes." searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." photograph?" at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that night.' said he. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the enter Dr. Roylott's room." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the very morning of the wedding." is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." a suggestive one." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "Pray do so." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Pray do so." "What of the rat, then?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, For additional contact information: Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "Certainly." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning any little problem which you may submit to me." his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Pray let us have it, for all that." nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of the roots. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' me have 200 pounds?' not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me it means?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. sooner or later she must fall a victim. There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an yards of it?' Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Proceed, then." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "9th. McCauley cleared. laugh and put his lips to my ear. his grey eyes. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and gentleman's clothes. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to she used." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "That is it on the dressing-table." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I generous with you in money matters.' chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it annoyance, but no jest. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "You think so, too?" "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "Thank you. And your address?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to hard-headed British jury." A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "'Yes, sir.' and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. it." know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a is," said he presently: unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "My dear Holmes!" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Foundation interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'Where to?' the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a our word." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from suggested at once that there must be a communication between the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it instincts rose up against that laugh. "Dr. Becher's." "My photograph." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "At half-wages, in fact." remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding right! Sit down and let us talk it over." particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this to change my dress. "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'Certainly not.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Ah, but I was recommended to you." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and been." "I cannot tell." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. which our visitor detailed to us. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "I should like to see him very much." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the it means?" think you a quite exceptional woman." matter over." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "Why, what do you mean?" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been digesting their breakfasts at home." there has been an enclosure here!" time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "And help." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "But he might be a bachelor." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the roots. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who sofa. This way, please!" any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "And the cigar-holder?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "At the wedding breakfast." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, suddenly upon us." "Stoke Moran?" said he. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't way in everything. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour me upon any point which I do not make clear." accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt gentleman's clothes. "From his hat?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, October 9, 1890. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so you came in." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the tell them apart.'