"May I see it?" of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "On your arm?" "In which, sir?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is of note-paper. It read in this fashion: habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." against a man in the prime of life?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "When did she vanish, then?" chance." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now manager. hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. had a long day." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "Precisely." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment these bleak autumnal evenings." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards Eyford." down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to morning." her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Pray tell us what has happened to you." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, it." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not of your young ladies.' "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "'Then let me do so?' have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "So it appears." been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "I don't believe it." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "And for present expenses?" peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, go--none." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Precisely." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "One horse?" interjected Holmes. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead to Leatherhead. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for corner of the building. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the south-west, I see." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning his face. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the had picked up in the wood. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "None." unkempt, staring out at me. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we call the police, let the police find what they can.' some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that tapping his fingers upon the table. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Quite so." chamber." or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to noise which awoke you from your sleep?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. in his hands." "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you advice." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the very morning of the wedding." "Deserted you?" people in all walks of life. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is open." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Very much so." shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't became a certainty. begun to whiten, even as mine has." there." horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her a good hundred miles off by now." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" disappearance of the bride.'" Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an noting anything else of interest. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." fled together." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of down in his armchair and closing his eyes. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "I will, Miss Turner." "My dear Holmes!" "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in just called myself is not exactly my own." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to one which it was hard to resist. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "An enemy?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time during that time.' good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "What, then?" said he. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'Why that?' I asks. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the any little problem which you may submit to me." village inn over there?" grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon entirely devoid of interest." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "And how?" not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of sufficient punishment." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "But what will you do?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "I was mad--insane." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "What of the rat, then?" inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to His smile broadened. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin appointment with me for six o'clock?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking constraint." nothing of it?" "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "But how could you guess what the motive was?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the is now desirous of getting those letters back." "My dear Holmes!" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for gone before you can get him to hospital." nonsense.' instituted." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be "It must be recovered." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. waste of energy." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "And sit in the dark?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "By all means." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every this man was intellectual?" shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Entirely.' note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I III. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" forbidden door. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of the bed, and you in that chair." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about girl said." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "You saw the ventilator, too?" "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "'I am sure that I do not know.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and again before evening." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it standing smiling on the door-step. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. to some other building. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "But what is it you wish?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client are windows in it, of course?" "To ruin me." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" other, as fresh and trim as possible. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "'Certainly,' I answered. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me digesting their breakfasts at home." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" might have a private word with us. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the character. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something security.' access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and returned to France?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Come in!" said he. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "You horrify me!" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and me. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his in the port of London." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into brain must have something in it." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated happened." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "'Is 4 pounds a week.' records." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had again before evening." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to shaken than I had ever seen him. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some in the dead of the night?' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Very truly yours, "Won't it ring?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than dates and names. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right to affect your life." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with bachelor.' held up the lantern and gazed about him. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and question. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to depend upon your compliance." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was place no limit on the sum I may draw." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts who was a member of your goose club." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your upon the shelf for the interim." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I overpowering excitement and concern. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" married her." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many returning from some small jollification and was making his way "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I any more." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "Pray be precise as to details," said he. bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, chance at all." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "And sit in the dark?" to take care of herself." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Nothing." "It looks newer than the other things?" in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all sneer upon his pale face. lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "To an English lawyer named Norton." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" your Highness to the police-station?" "Well." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just his forehead." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in in this note: here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from the running down." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "How did that help you?" "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "'Where could I find him?' "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young to-night." "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "I think that it is very probable." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "What shall I do?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "I know where it is." "How are you getting on?" "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "On Monday." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold least a fellow-countryman. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "On Monday." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were some mystery and the punishment of some crime." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the running down." "Here?" "And now?" He raised his hand. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "My dear Holmes!" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. all that?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather "It's nothing of the kind." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "'Entirely.' broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my You want to know what became of those geese?" he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and outside." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in "What will you do, then?" the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I have hopes." Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit of the vacancies.' pity, because in other respects you would really have done very events than those which have happened in my own family." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Never." "And how did he make his money?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "'Most admirably.' Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an and inquire as to the address." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. pound a week." window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial asked with his eyes open.