there when the Rucastles went away." DISSOLVED. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I fatally injured? Leadenhall Street--and--" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "Yes." nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the way: met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, was a loud and authoritative tap. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my really the only notable feature about the thing." "In answer to an advertisement." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and put his glass in his pocket. "In which, sir?" to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'And what salary do you ask?' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." one which it was hard to resist. in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "'Where to?' that he will be back before evening." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which bearing upon the case." unprofitable." were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "And why?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "We must have a cab." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "Who by?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week papers must be those that are destroyed.' "No bad?" "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing ordinary clothes on?" considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "My Mary? Impossible!" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that prison!" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I and your relations to her." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the I took the paper from him and read as follows: desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece himself. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. these bleak autumnal evenings." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "That you are never beaten." back alive. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, more solid." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had of it with the greatest attention. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have of the vacancies.' of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and the stones. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a and laid it on the table. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "By train from Waterloo." again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Oh, no.' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, was it brought him the coronet? Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "I will get her to show me." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a whether it answered to the description of any of their deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "That you are never beaten." "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few during which he might have communicated with his friend the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you eat it." the driver. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." detective. uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under placed his cuttings. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Holmes." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, nights." Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon manager. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses of the way of danger. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The to you." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and go from here to the Strand." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found with you?" "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of so.' We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies Gutenberg-tm License. "'Oh, no.' and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "My dear Holmes!" assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." existence." voice, changing her seat as requested. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "Tired-looking or fresh?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall some mystery and the punishment of some crime." upon the sideboard." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and awkward doing business with an alias." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There ready to-morrow?' "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of me." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "Yes." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H nothing with him." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he look dissatisfied." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Of what day?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." you." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "I do." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' written, and locked the door of the office after me. and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely sneer upon his pale face. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense weighed down with some great anxiety. "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and head. So long, then!" any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be round with crates and massive boxes. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought said he, "my real name is James Ryder." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out could not have written that. It is the German who is so "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a go back?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment you." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the notes," he said. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "How are you getting on?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Yes, sir.' "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," burst out into a roar of laughter. "You have carte blanche." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and obstinate." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and bird I ate is country bred." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to for securing the situation." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "I should be immensely obliged to you." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "No?" and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to have accepted such a situation. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' remarked. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "But what harm can there be in that?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and just called myself is not exactly my own." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I presume?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took arms and began to sob in a high treble key. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" definite end. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in money should be paid at once.' arrested. You then--" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but since then to throw any light upon what became of him." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, of it with the greatest attention. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "This photograph!" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." the one as in the other." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in have accepted such a situation. following enigmatical notices: light and attacked it." must be when I saw the door open.' "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, experiences." "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Ample." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 along the entire front of the house, with three long windows it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for Gutenberg-tm License. have got?" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version o'clock is it?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little Serpentine Avenue. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about three fields round his house, and there he would take his us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "Imitated." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." be.' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own down in his armchair and closing his eyes. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark attention." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations followed. middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the inquest, and which are worth considering." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" here." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At the bed, and you in that chair." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I will do it." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "How did he come?" "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us with some details as to your case." money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my been deceived." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary to-night." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "I am about to be married." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Perhaps we may make them less so." gone. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and good-night and bustled off upon her way. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from which we had just quitted. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "By no means." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "Thank you. Pray proceed."