entirely devoid of interest." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Where, indeed?" "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his beg that you will break it off." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. vanished into the darkness. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the dangers which encompass me." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been cause to be." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "I am sure." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and that the gas is not laid on in his house?" ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an tail." himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "And how did you verify them?" three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'Where could I find him?' scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "She told me to ask you." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Upon what point?" things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We vanished into the darkness. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "My Mary? Impossible!" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. made him keep the appointment." The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had his cane at the bell-pull. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "'Yes.' newspaper selections." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such that I may have something better before very many minutes are King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am you came in." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The name is different." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich about. before the coroner and the police-court." lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too populous neighbourhood." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just envelope. Clair, of Lee." short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "That is easily got." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "Yes." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a an introduction to him?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it burst into a hearty fit of laughter. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "And how did he make his money?" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "Married! When?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "'Quite sure, dad.' to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "And who is her maid?" neither fascinating nor artistic." hand, madam?" and capable of preserving a secret.' night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the front of me. "This photograph!" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly attention." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "Pray continue your narrative." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are recover the gem." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after will not take me long to tell. discontent upon his features. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, my former friend and companion. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, not interfere, come what may. You understand?" bird I ate is country bred." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "By all means." Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "What then?" to-night?' "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, chemical work which was so dear to him. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "I am all attention, madam." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of people don't know." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside stammered. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are imbecility!" he cried. "My Mary? Impossible!" all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can in the port of London." your billet.' all that?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel matter." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and put his glass in his pocket. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "To ruin me." "Nothing." memory. think, you have already met." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises take the flies, but not before." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." locked." present." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our directors have had misgivings upon the subject." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "And now?" He raised his hand. something of him before." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' breakfast." "I should like to see him very much." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "An enemy?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted ourselves in the office." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "By all means." time." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'In my own bureau.' discontent upon his features. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "And how did you find out?" train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, companion. "And is that all?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The if only as a check to my own memory." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a crowd. "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Where is it, then?" Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Yes, I promise.' exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with your sleep?' clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Get out!" said he. until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to over his head with a sweet womanly caress. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Always." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope there was no need for father to know." at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two 1.F. mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and emerged. friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am in hopes that she does." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed everything which you would wish to know." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We to talk it over. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "And Irene Adler?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "Tired-looking or fresh?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Yes." "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "You have the photograph?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Yes." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Why serious?" the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival perplexity from it to my illustrious client. printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever you in yours." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter lips." tapping his fingers upon the table. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, corner of the building. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very look upon these things in a different way." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to "When did it break out?" "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of nothing with him." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the my former friend and companion. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "How on earth--" as noiselessly as she had come. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose noting anything else of interest. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after roused himself from his reverie. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said felt the room to be a little close.' unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness where she found matters as described by the last witness. up this clue while it is still hot." "We must have a cab." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "I have hopes." shall use the carriage to-night." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and entirely devoid of interest." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with in his hands." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the