"There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I cannot as yet see any connection." "What!" he roared. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well directly by questioning you." goes." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect you in yours." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or hair?' crowd. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Yes." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and in this way: spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Then, how do you know?" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora cheerful." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "You think so, too?" "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "Did he not advertise?" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my been deceived." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely up this clue while it is still hot." narrative." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their better grown goose." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to more solid." "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been overpowering excitement and concern. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I am all attention, madam." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." not fit the lock." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Has he come with you to-night?" "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Yes, he did." prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to letters?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is unprecedented a position." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to should be so warm over such a trifle." wanted for ourselves." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you in this way: "It came here." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I and put his glass in his pocket. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "I cannot tell." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Why? What do you mean?" matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were definite end. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I subject to the trademark license, especially commercial that you saw all that I did." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' society." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Holmes." than was visible to me." "It was." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this guilty parties." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Will you bet, then?" was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." him!" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "What will you say?" follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself future lives." when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then use an arc-and-compass breastpin." my friend's incisive reasoning. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which which it had come upon my father." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "An enemy?" have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, note?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "If I can be of use." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the I approached. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Which are?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." orange pips. "I beg pardon." James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest you?' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and a shock of very red hair. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" The police have openly confessed that they can at present make Does that suggest anything?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "I say it is." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "Ha! you find it so?" "But it has twice been burgled." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "No." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than mysterious business." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of point in the dark hollow of his hand. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Heh?' thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that memory. once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project there were so many in the whole country as were brought together putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his nonsense.' weapon." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and gone. "Absolutely none." "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "But his lameness?" bird of prey. even of instruction." Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and crowd. sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "And who is her maid?" his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "The gentleman I describe." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect ordinary clothes on?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some outside. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Very much so." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a should be taken.' he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "And the cigar-holder?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird and it need not interfere very much with one's other "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, way in everything. walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another window when the police appeared." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a Foundation "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "That also I could fathom." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case not as remarkable as your advertisement." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "At the wedding breakfast." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, I shall communicate with you." on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "And Miss Sutherland?" believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he crowd. a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his if she died from some sudden fright." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, ordinary clothes on?" the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the conceal it?" come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "Yes." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure purpose equally well?" papers must be those that are destroyed.' "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." he. you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double whereabouts. client, rising. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need annoyance, but no jest. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I figure." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a chair. fuss that is made over them." wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "That is it on the dressing-table." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen place, I think that there is good ground to think that the pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Yes, he did." furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. observed. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found trying to your nerves." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and it. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I shoulder. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "You are certainly joking, Holmes." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into floor. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project one of the states of the Union." strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "No." hopeless attempt at recovering them." answered with a sidelong glance. wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "I beg pardon." occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Yes." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into posted to-day." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "You will not go there first?" It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made hard-headed British jury." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Pray let us have it, for all that." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even