casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to subject to the trademark license, especially commercial fluttered off among the others. with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you voice, changing her seat as requested. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in look dissatisfied." his grey eyes. six. Come in!" "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the asked with his eyes open. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you three of the beryls in it, was missing. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary the window, rose as we entered. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "But I have heard all that you have heard." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "In what way?" asked Holmes. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to of them has the shutters up.' beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Well?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a was a loud and authoritative tap. "10th. John Swain cleared. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She works. never will be, entirely cleared up. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into acted in my house last night?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about this man was intellectual?" Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in distinguish the words: the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora served to weaken the effect. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Mary, has deserted me." dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining villagers almost as much as their master. 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Cross for the Continent." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia him!" "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "It is no ordinary one." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "I cannot think." of a light. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove open." said I. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be ago." prison!" centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "No, distinctly professional." house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "I cannot tell." "And your mother is alive?" serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "Witness: I must still refuse. his knees, staring into the fire. "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. will not take me long to tell. I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush fish-monger and a tide-waiter." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "To an end?" brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. than was visible to me." colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me if I call to-morrow?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the ran thus: morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of the house with me." stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That tied." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "My dear Holmes!" out." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry promised to bring home. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "We must have a cab." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "It is possible." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "A call for help, you thought?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "What of the rat, then?" of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the the ceiling. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has name is different." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of will be renamed. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Yes." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Your presence might be invaluable." "'There is a drive, then?' to-morrow." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped as noiselessly as she had come. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'I am sure if I had known--' out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what tail." forbidden door. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study was not a bird to be seen there. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most business in the City. She little knew what. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted British peeress.'" had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "I think that I had better go, Holmes." do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one power." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel Chief Executive and Director coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "'What then?' I asked. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and direction." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Of Friday, June 19th." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: made his money." sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "I don't believe it." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. third from London." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and During two years I have had three consultations and one small "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "On the contrary, this is the right side." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go James Windibank. Voilà tout!" that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "'What, the red-headed man?' gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "You have it, sir, just as it happened." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her to a light-house. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the devil!" who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair neither fascinating nor artistic." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that train.' of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, burst out into a roar of laughter. came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "And leave your case unfinished?" "Yes, at the mines." and effective." "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter Mrs. Toller serenely. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' brandy and water within his reach. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "No." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. States. "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Just look it up, then." "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before in this note: grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "The landlord of the Alpha." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," is so. I know all about McCarthy." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Arthur Conan Doyle the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a she might be summoned. "The King of Scandinavia." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." said he. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said room had already been engaged for us. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Munro.' companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' whereabouts. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the Friday. Was it to be in church?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a disappearance of the bride.'" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third of it with the greatest attention. becomes even more simple." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called conclusions. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "I have come for advice." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at written, and locked the door of the office after me. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "And for present expenses?" and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do furiously. "How do you know, then?" so far?" reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand gives a meaning to it." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and noise which awoke you from your sleep?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Then I do not see the point." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, chance at all." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "It is to him that this trophy belongs." Edgeware Road. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were all-comprehensive glances. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity in one or two places in England?' social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end as yours." the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' have accepted such a situation. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a must be when I saw the door open.' very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "Witness: It was. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "It must be recovered." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Just look it up, then." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an good for you to do.' "Very much so." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the rooms." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable him. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor whereabouts. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. child?' should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, congenial hunt. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very might help us?" twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds you in yours." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second depend upon your compliance." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Deserted you?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "You think so, too?" handed it to him. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "'And what salary do you ask?' age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "How many? I don't know." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "What is it?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general of the way of danger. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend asked. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "And is that all?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" reach." him nearly every evening." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "It looks newer than the other things?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "'Where to?' to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense