"No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an bonnet, and went out." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "'Is purely nominal.' "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the station." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a really the only notable feature about the thing." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "ARAT," I read. despair." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might putting in the horse. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "The murder was done with it." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the detective. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "What, then?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind past. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both comes from the middle window." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "Entirely." this poor creature." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime bed dies. Does not that strike you?" purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary get her out of the way." "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "Perfectly so." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every hair?' tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "What then?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right very old mansion. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. His name is Francis Prosper." drawing your inferences." Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "No." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Where did you address your letters, then?" blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has be best to do. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "No more words. Get out!" the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and quick march!" from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "ARAT," I read. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at feature." fact, we may call it conclusive." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "No legal papers or certificates?" thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but situation." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper appointment with me for six o'clock?" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the shall use the carriage to-night." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "I am still in the dark." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Oh, fresh and glossy." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or take the flies, but not before." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is eavesdroppers?' brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger matter over." glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, strode off upon his way. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "It goes to the housekeeper's room." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "What do you make of that, Watson?" what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had way in everything. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And introspective fashion. "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have skylight. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that salesman. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through interest. They are important, you understand, without being It was close upon four before the door opened, and a done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. following enigmatical notices: time." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their perplexity from it to my illustrious client. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, companion. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for hard-headed British jury." had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "An accident, I presume?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a jewels which you have stolen?' heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other Arthur Conan Doyle strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'Stolen!' he cried. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He business came to an end." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," cost them two and thirty pounds." believe that I should never have any practice at all. "'What then?' I asked. as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I written. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "'I have heard so.' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." see a sister of mine apply for." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send himself. chemical work which was so dear to him. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its down. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say round with crates and massive boxes. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at your equipment. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "That is not always so easy." the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we three fields round his house, and there he would take his "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the once more to my work. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "Can I be of assistance?" "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing lost nothing by them." "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "What of the rat, then?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is some terrible trap for her." in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible what do you think they found in the pockets?" then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. was a perfect sample of the class. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the Red-headed League." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "So I am. Very much so." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram prisoner's face. chambers. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, my special province." made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover attention." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you do.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the matter?" gigantic client. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood speckled band?" do.' been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "I am armed." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope make me his representative both with the servants and with the fact, we may call it conclusive." "Absolutely?" "Yes." pressing in one house as in another. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "'Yes.' "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my placed his cuttings. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Yes, the wine-cellar." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during do.' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "'About the same.' though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or the south-west, I see." purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." forbidden door. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders points to suicide?" "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and place no limit on the sum I may draw." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By must compliment you." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Yes." leaning back in his chair. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the new acquaintance to Baker Street. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "And Irene Adler?" "Quite so. She has her freedom." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, without success. At last the little money which I had saved began much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the the inner apartment." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we Clair, of Lee." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and hurried by. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other From what you have told me I think that it is possible that better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I there has been an enclosure here!" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "You horrify me!" The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "You did not overhear what they said?" which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," ready to-morrow?' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet this truth that in these little records of our cases which you suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Was there a secret marriage?" clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work chill to my heart. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which province." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from like that before?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "And for present expenses?" hurried away. my special province." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which purpose of examination. "You don't mind breaking the law?" "He is dead," cried several voices. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "But how?" his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Precisely." "And what did you learn from him?" "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my quick march!" only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "How on earth--" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Foundation silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the States. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped infinite languor in his face. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered I have it here in my museum." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally more terrible than the truth. here and I will read it to you: "But she will refuse." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote one or two very singular points about this room. For example, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "You have but to name it." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "My dear Holmes!" the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." Sutherland. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in narrative." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, all-comprehensive glances. "I shall be delighted." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to throat." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and her also." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet."