came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "But how?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps one or two very singular points about this room. For example, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "I cannot tell." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Pool. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a shoulder. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's like that before?" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able chill to my heart. A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I there is a decided draught." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with shoulder. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the Assizes." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so who was a member of your goose club." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again certainly not very gracious." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. "Then the page we have seen--" "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "I beg pardon." chill to my heart. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and be best to do. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "I don't believe it." Holmes rather sternly. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and to-night?' very old mansion. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "But how?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen mystery may be cleared along those lines." over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was upon the shelf for the interim." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, crackling voice. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, once more on the important position which you have been fortunate afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such hands. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we companion. "You are hungry," I remarked. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was them present such singular features as the strange train of the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "Get out!" said he. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how my friend's incisive reasoning. Farm upon the left." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Watson," he said cordially. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would might have a private word with us. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "I never have." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country cost them two and thirty pounds." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." cigar and let me expound." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "There are none." until night should bring an explanation. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "No, distinctly professional." to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been morning." Edgeware Road. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can bears upon the case?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he License. You must require such a user to return or made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "That you are never beaten." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "But how?" happened." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all salesman. just ask you whether you had heard it.' drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to During two years I have had three consultations and one small scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "What is it?" "I never have." "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by became a certainty. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Did he not advertise?" that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "'Where could I find him?' guilty parties." "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I am armed." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "No, I had a dozen." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "Why did you beat the pavement?" cup of tea. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told gone. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him girl said." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for my little problems." "'Certainly not. But why?' closing the door. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there seen the man in the road." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. digesting their breakfasts at home." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "My private note-paper." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of carried out of court." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "'In my own bureau.' for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. companion. Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it important." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "I was afraid that you were engaged." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building he died? Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "And for present expenses?" signal between you and your father? up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in know what is wrong with it.' intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Dr. Becher's." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt observed. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the whatever might befall. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. any." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "Dark enough and sinister enough." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that affection." himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; you." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case 'please.'" bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Holmes." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something you for a few hours?" "In which, sir?" also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; me. You must get home instantly and act." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "What! Had he lost his wife?" thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "What! You do not mean bodies?" noise which awoke you from your sleep?" and capable of preserving a secret.' not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous infinite languor in his face. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, triumphant cloud from his cigarette. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into it." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in him and tried to hold him back. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "How many? I don't know." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the until night should bring an explanation. obstinate." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." papers diligently of late, have you not?" overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "It missed him, then?" together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the asked. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step had no one to advise her at such a crisis." arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this what I may call a really hard day's work." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, woven round him. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or became a certainty. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "'As governess?' Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "And Miss Sutherland?" "And I." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. so.' before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country the very morning of the wedding." ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an the general public were present, then?" so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. shaken than I had ever seen him. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you joking. "And your father? Did you tell him?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I am to be neutral?" not personally threatened." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which morning." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "'You doubt its value?' he asked. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very clang of the bell. along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "'Yes, sir.' an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, cigars in their mouths. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "No, I am descending." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in things are very often connected not with the larger but with the events than those which have happened in my own family." age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Has he come with you to-night?"