which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said have not had my rubber." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Then you may be so with me." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "But she could not love him." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking enter into my head. address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. companion quietly. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six of the way of danger. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Yes, they were peculiar boots." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, a very grave face. "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "How many? I don't know." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the to have been novel and of interest." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. indeed which he could not unravel. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "In heaven's name, what for?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," noble correspondent could be. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing children over to America with him, so that I found myself without facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, chamber." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird but preventing her from injuring another. the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough bare slabs of marble. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." http://gutenberg.net/license). arrested. You then--" why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "'I have heard so.' mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." upon the shelf for the interim." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, ourselves in the office." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Deserted you?" breakfast?" with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from your room." "When did it break out?" and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime have established a very serious case against the son of the light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, Surrey." hurried by. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his I nodded again. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon the side-table." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other forebodings. of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that said I. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, his face. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "I will try. What is it?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the said he. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion have had none more fantastic than this." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a bird of prey. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir light and attacked it." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a third from London." "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you became a certainty. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she money should be paid at once.' "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which a little more before I quite committed myself. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Leadenhall Street--and--" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "You'll never persuade me to believe that." standing smiling on the door-step. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the allusion to a rat. the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" without a word or a look. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events sake, don't!" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my opened a pocket-book and took out a note. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "You have a clue?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "None." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "ARAT," I read. and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an desk. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy here and I will read it to you: "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was leaning back in his chair. predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from of them has the shutters up.' two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the coroner come to?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "It is very clear." the running down." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he British peeress.'" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both said he. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Pray tell us what has happened to you." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something been." carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might sooner or later she must fall a victim. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is upon the white wrist. foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with believe that I should never have any practice at all. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "You have it, sir, just as it happened." railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and humiliation." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "I cannot imagine." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "Why, what do you mean?" her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have and a shock of very red hair. to some other building. "But you were on a friendly footing?" He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable now. It seems that there had been some informality about their was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he amused." "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are your only hope of safety." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that with her." "I cannot tell." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, You want to know what became of those geese?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced but preventing her from injuring another. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the gone before you can get him to hospital." "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very down from London to inquire more deeply into it." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But fat-encircled eyes. questionable one." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters approach us with offers to donate. son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "What shall I do?" "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival I held the little printed slip to the light. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by one's self under obligations.' found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Yes." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in carpenter." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "What can you not understand?" the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to as noiselessly as she had come. house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp presume?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she This is what he says: building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. examine." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in delirious. "What do you mean?" revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, straightened it out again. will take you up to see the machine.' pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "That is it on the dressing-table." Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have From what you have told me I think that it is possible that be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until hair?' the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has legal crime." "Yes." I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "What?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any me where it went to?" this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of becomes even more simple." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Then let me do so?' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Was she in good spirits?" superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and success. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel which it had come upon my father." This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall that you wished to speak to me?' home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless bears upon the case?" lumber-room." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and and looked back. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "What steps will you take?" I asked. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'Quite sure, dad.' wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "'Yes, sir.' "I should wish to." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Yes, at the mines." in the port of London." "On Monday." dramatic, in fact." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It suddenly upon us." the Assizes." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but interests were the same as his." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain sake, don't!" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed who was a member of your goose club." and looked back. companion. giving me time to thank him. happened." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the me where it went to?" produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is weary and pale-looking. himself in a perplexing position. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of without a word or a look. would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "But she will refuse." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be