Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps drove away. figure." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Yes, from Horsham." "Never." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. I nodded to show that I had heard. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I will not take me long to tell. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, taking in every detail of the apartment. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith forecastle of an emigrant ship. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent you." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. bare slabs of marble. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "Indeed! Whose, then?" which we had just quitted. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version the little opening for the ventilator is." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of in the hope of finding them." "You will not go there first?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, persecution?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when with some details as to your case." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "An accident, I presume?" "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has one's self under obligations.' "Here?" Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger night.' said he. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me over here." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some occupations.' "But who is he?" been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an The events in question occurred in the early days of my We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "I have come for advice." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone ceremony." "But I am all in the dark." forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty some mystery and the punishment of some crime." He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Quite so." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob and wait." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Of what day?" purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "I am still in the dark." "But his left-handedness." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which murdered man." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name his forehead." not within a twentieth part of the market price." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to good for you to do.' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and papers must be those that are destroyed.' something of him before." "And what did you see?" ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." guilty parties." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the had picked up in the wood. "But she will refuse." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Count Von Kramm." of Mr. Rucastle's." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "No bad?" undoubtedly my uncle's." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Yes, there are nearly always some there." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up coroner's jury." himself to tell his story. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing not, dad?" she asked. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully your billet.' and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "If I can be of use." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "'Never.' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been was a perfect sample of the class. the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it nice household for a young lady." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "But not more so than I to find you." "'Yes, it was gone.' Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may very morning of my second wedding." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, happened." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "What is it?" ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. meant it for the best. empty. music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "'Which dealer's?' We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its of fine shops and stately business premises that they really 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' about here speaks of his kindness to him." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety people in all walks of life. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and his huge brown hands. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish already been minutely examined." formed some opinion?" him. me have 200 pounds?' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away Miss Holder?" his eyes and forehead. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "Your presence might be invaluable." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "Where, then?" "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing of the way of danger. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." delighted to hear it," he said. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is father's young wife. touch that coronet?' "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and fattened it expressly for you.' against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I swore that no one else had been in the front room during the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief developed." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice wall." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." that "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the national property. I was determined that the law should have its the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, corner of the building. were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer II. over here." "It is very clear." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." hair?' entirely lost his self-respect." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" highroad, where all traces were lost. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I answered that I had not. my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "Of Friday, June 19th." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "On Monday." traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman easy-going way." companion quietly. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "He slept on the premises." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which answered with a sidelong glance. "This photograph!" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a IS "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "I will, Miss Turner." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this fuss that is made over them." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I reach." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since photograph?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the where she found matters as described by the last witness. as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while that?' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. me. You must get home instantly and act." national property. I was determined that the law should have its jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "What I expected to see." the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving side. your own bird, so if you wish--" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" unprofitable." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his one's self under obligations.' that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as way: I nodded again. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Certainly." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a my secret was safe in his possession. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, in him." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, note?" copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was business." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and likely to be some crony of the landlady's." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, peculiar to him. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the coroner come to?" begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the just called myself is not exactly my own." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." certainly do as you advise." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Nothing." became a certainty. delighted to hear it," he said. is worth.' reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of with the outside air!" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. highroad, where all traces were lost. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Munro.' To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "'As governess?' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "I am still in the dark." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which country, and eventually married, without anyone having a "About a month then." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in for the market.' "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and tell me that you intended to go into harness." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "Then how many are there?" tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "Nothing." "I was mad--insane." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Well?" "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "None." I was concerned in it." my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up that you wished to speak to me?'