constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a interest. They are important, you understand, without being while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "And sit in the dark?" "At half-wages, in fact." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a http://gutenberg.net/license). "To ruin me." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Stoke Moran?" said he. think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, generous with you in money matters.' my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his she has been waylaid. There has been no result." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he developed." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for his face. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from could gather together that I was able to avert another public "But I have heard all that you have heard." matters immensely." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the roots. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have brain must have something in it." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "My dear Holmes!" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. gigantic client. "What office?" "The vanishing of the lady." as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "It's nothing of the kind." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. and glanced through. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "Perfectly so." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "How did you deduce the select?" "And now?" I asked. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. meant it for the best. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "My photograph." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked up this clue while it is still hot." more solid." ordinary clothes on?" McCarthy." "Thank you. And your address?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." becomes even more simple." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm strength." place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes she has been waylaid. There has been no result." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew For additional contact information: questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this I am not easy in my mind about them." "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Dr. Gregory B. Newby vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "You are all wrong." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing strength of mind to control. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "Why, what do you mean?" other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had you." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." appeared upon the scene." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own over his head with a sweet womanly caress. man. "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "You don't mind breaking the law?" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could about here speaks of his kindness to him." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "About a month then." photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. that I may have something better before very many minutes are wedding?" waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then good for you to do.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic became a certainty. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'There is a drive, then?' Holmes. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Then I do not see the point." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Witness: Nothing definite. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true happened." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were secret." salesman. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being call it cruel." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "I think that it is very probable." of your young ladies.' saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "That's no good." direction." sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. these bleak autumnal evenings." He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they Farm upon the left." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water do.' the best of training." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "And did you observe any change in her then?" of them has the shutters up.' at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Precisely." that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "Stolen." really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "None. Neville wrote those words." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern maiden herself was most instructive." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining any little problem which you may submit to me." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Nothing." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An some terrible trap for her." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his the child." very morning of my second wedding." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with that threaten you." "But I am all in the dark." tear off another piece?' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "The best possible." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "She walked into the breakfast-room." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the province." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, and I shall be with you presently." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "Entirely." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only John Swain, of St. Augustine. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "But your client--" intrusion of other matters." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "And how?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." fishes. "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, in my life." previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'No, I know no one in these parts.' papers on the sundial.'" been lifted and conveyed somewhere." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried weapon." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project cigars in the box." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together your troubles." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I shoulder; "he's all right." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and the inner apartment." ran thus: him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just so far?" was the fact that his father should, according to his account, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which Holmes." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the see a sister of mine apply for." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding with you?" we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'Tell me all about it,' said I. his huge brown hands. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in congenial hunt. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. that there was nothing in it, after all." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those triumphant cloud from his cigarette. word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid it means?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the think that he is innocent?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a crackling voice. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "You did not overhear what they said?" it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent about here speaks of his kindness to him." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." could not have written that. It is the German who is so news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. bell. Holmes whistled. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the there was no need for father to know." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "On the contrary, this is the right side." "Was there a secret marriage?" turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of mysterious business." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. the general public were present, then?" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society always that they were such commands as a lady might with spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, fluttered off among the others. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal she to prove their authenticity?" "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" very morning of my second wedding." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Have you her photograph?" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the and wait." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle redistribution. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which