uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching call it cruel." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself away into the river." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you footfalls from the street. "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into the night.' what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with vanished into the darkness. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you despair." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so them?" and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "What then?" in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" your only hope of safety." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here redistribution. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "The Coroner: What do you mean? arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Not I." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran go--none." best detective that ever lived. opened a pocket-book and took out a note. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in impression behind it as though a window had gently closed then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He bearing upon the case." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." papers diligently of late, have you not?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. out." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." have I gained?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "But you can know nothing of this?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for Miss Holder?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they down. maid will bring up your coffee." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Game for a morning drive?" the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I congenial hunt. these bleak autumnal evenings." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "How did you trace it, then?" photograph a cabinet?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn ago." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'What then?' I asked. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those away in different directions, and I went off to make my own heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the helping a boy to put up the shutters. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of friend's singular character. "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "Could he throw no light?" to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one fish-monger and a tide-waiter." "Then you may entirely rely on me." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "He disappeared so suddenly." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the weighed down with some great anxiety. outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save chance at all." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "Yes, all." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant him." to have that photograph." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons business matters.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. there is a decided draught." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the morning and make my own way in the world.' glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "I have my revolver," said I. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been crowd. steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. shall not find me ungrateful." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "No." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "Has he come with you to-night?" equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I late!' three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." hereditary King of Bohemia." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Pray let us have it, for all that." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as certainly do as you advise." events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the stable lane now." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, points in connection with it which never have been, and probably "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's to go into your room and bar your shutters?" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place "How do you know, then?" had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she me upon any point which I do not make clear." again on its way. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box asked. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" whatever might befall. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Did you become engaged then?" "In answer to an advertisement." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Never to return." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "In heaven's name, what for?" dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. at my remark. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "You don't mind breaking the law?" throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Where did you address your letters, then?" the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that the iron safe, which he closed upon it. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have in the dead of the night?' habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced held up the lantern and gazed about him. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of details." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "My stepfather's business papers." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and way in everything. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its This is what he says: "Yes." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I bore every mark of being an average commonplace British reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a observed. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, you?' "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of not personally threatened." contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "What, then, did Peterson do?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check just ask you whether you had heard it.' I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "That also I could fathom." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my that you saw all that I did." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, was not a bird to be seen there. disappearance of the bride.'" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' call for it in person on Monday morning.' interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Oh, the cause is excellent!" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the from the brougham. "How often?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "I think it very unlikely." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. and the church but not where the lady lived." I am not easy in my mind about them." as noiselessly as she had come. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." posted to-day." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own that he has suffered." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "And Irene Adler?" your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Could he throw no light?" "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without have an American origin." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked been deceived." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the visitors." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is anything to do with the matter?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. my friend's incisive reasoning. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the very letters. But what is this written above them?' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "You think that he is dead?" over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed go from here to the Strand." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure experiences." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent unclasping of his long thin hands. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting from the brougham. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "No." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "It surprised me." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Sutherland. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of wife's character?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked and files of the old papers, following the future career of every this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Married! When?" "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he to miss it." "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my deduce something from that?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! all that?" garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, thought that she would have been so carried away." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would them present such singular features as the strange train of time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City fashion which was peculiar to him. thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. indeed happy." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "That sounds a little paradoxical." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if there when the Rucastles went away." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "'A dozen yards or so.' "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those you, my dear young lady?' was a loud and authoritative tap. she used." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "Stolen, then." "How did you deduce the select?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." his knees, staring into the fire. my special province." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave affair. have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I and no precautions can guard against." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Yes." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "At the wedding breakfast." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding paper in the air. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." papers." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in