"It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "No, thank goodness, she did not." the coronet at all injured?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in his fortune, and I went back to pa. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will will not take me long to tell. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will think you a quite exceptional woman." "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. girl said." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as appeared upon the scene." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. tell me that you intended to go into harness." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the matter?" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "And on what day did he meet his death?" shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters on in his house." "What, then, did Peterson do?" business in the City. She little knew what. "Yes. He waved his hands." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to Pope's Court. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I obstinate." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and make me his representative both with the servants and with the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, I nodded again. which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring swore that no one else had been in the front room during the were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and ran thus: "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "You saw the ventilator, too?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to article?" was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, learned something! Where are the gems?" again on its way. was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the bled considerably." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, to arrive at through this?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and shall use the carriage to-night." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy It may be so in this case, also." how narrow had been my escape. weighed down with some great anxiety. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. the dangers which encompass me." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Well, some hundreds of times." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a McCarthy's innocence. "Precisely." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to where she found matters as described by the last witness. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "It is true that I have been generally successful." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I will not look." my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "And how have you succeeded?" last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon should be taken.' the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "What?" "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Holmes' thin, eager face. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder front of the hall door has given its name to the place. with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than again, where I was soon asleep. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" "Your French gold?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "It is solved." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "10th. John Swain cleared. resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. round and wave him away like that.' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "Where to?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "So I am. Very much so." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the Assizes." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It is solved." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "What! You do not mean bodies?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Bought." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the you for a few hours?" have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret not as remarkable as your advertisement." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those security.' over with notes and figures. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'Tell me all about it,' said I. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you tail." dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which October 9, 1890. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you intrusion of other matters." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Holmes, the busybody!" "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not ourselves in the office." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I say that I have solved it." self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have remarked. hour?' as the one I chose?' peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and never came back." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several with you?" "A confidential servant?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy people in all walks of life. But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we in this note: "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything stepfather?" there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it second." row." Eyford at 11:15.' who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "How often?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Where did you address your letters, then?" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "One of the highest in England." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a until night should bring an explanation. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had during which he might have communicated with his friend the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "No, thank goodness, she did not." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent prison!" "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His as the one I chose?' until night should bring an explanation. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'And the work?' on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very detective. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I in his power. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private matters immensely." his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, know what is wrong with it.' light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Stoke Moran?" said he. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the matter?" of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Yes, but only for you and me." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "'What do you call purely nominal?' that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the Friday. Was it to be in church?" It may be so in this case, also." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the signal between you and your father? dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Your presence might be invaluable." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "How on earth--" from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "In San Francisco, a year ago." Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." I have it here in my museum." was a loud and authoritative tap. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that where Mr. Fordham shows you.' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "What!" he roared. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "9th. McCauley cleared. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'Yes, sir.' chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Texas, I think." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "You did not overhear what they said?" less than 26s. 4d. the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that.