"Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I speckled band?" had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. your sleep?' "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "This photograph!" veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was not personally threatened." wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "But your client--" walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side to his chemical studies. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the date of his supposed suicide." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you acted in my house last night?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done which are rolled in Rotterdam." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but a monotonous occupation." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we burst out into a roar of laughter. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "In answer to an advertisement." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the time." "How did you deduce the select?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction one of them." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Yes, at the mines." politicians who had been sent down from the North. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, horse could go." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I colour had been driven from his face. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Frequently." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has me, and I could not think that his explanation of the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly which I could not give. He asked for Alice. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "You are hungry," I remarked. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales ran thus: "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good vague figure huddled up in the darkness. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. along the entire front of the house, with three long windows attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "Yes, the wine-cellar." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "To an English lawyer named Norton." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all showing my impatience. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at he died? Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "9th. McCauley cleared. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be business." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "It missed him, then?" points to suicide?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is bachelor.' foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was you." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "And now?" I asked. accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided passage and a tap at the door. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that as the one I chose?' "My stepfather's business papers." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'In my own bureau.' was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, closely." drawing your inferences." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' peculiar to him. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, I shall communicate with you." outbreak?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "What I expected to see." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you States. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with 'please.'" "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her have established a very serious case against the son of the my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "9th. McCauley cleared. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of You want to know what became of those geese?" the stones. Holmes' room. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical things are very often connected not with the larger but with the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a you want, then?' "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and note?" became a certainty. footfalls from the street. "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "And now?" I asked. without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE hereditary King of Bohemia." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing situation." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in key of the affair now." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes unprecedented a position." eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to his huge brown hands. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. taking in every detail of the apartment. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I the coronet at all injured?" the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? helping a boy to put up the shutters. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a get her out of the way." over here." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a you." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had round with crates and massive boxes. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save that he will be back before evening." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You horrify me!" I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He wedding?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "'What then?' I asked. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." papers must be those that are destroyed.' clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my all that?" I shall communicate with you." room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "You will not go there first?" "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Street. "'Very good.' Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'Certainly,' I answered. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood chill to my heart. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this away to you." woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." married her." in. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "I will not look." I am not easy in my mind about them." go back?" suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is do.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "How do you know, then?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "Here?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went I was concerned in it." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite relief. him to go away.' said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, enter into my head. "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "'Very good.' cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his http://gutenberg.net/license). International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "And I say east," said my patient. relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I minor matters until to-morrow." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "But you can know nothing of this?" on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point this man was intellectual?" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "On the contrary, this is the right side." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and chill to my heart. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. murdered man." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "This photograph!" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I asked. Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "One of his hands." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We good for you to do.' "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and matter." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all girl said." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, lost his Christmas dinner." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon which we had just quitted. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "Then you may entirely rely on me." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." father's young wife. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face friend's singular character. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Stolen, then." over with notes and figures. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I ventilator." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Well, but China?" the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it will not take me long to tell. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any Eyford at 11:15.' in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Only as much as we can deduce." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The touch that coronet?' appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty that, and I came down." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I will try. What is it?" flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a