"Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my formed some opinion?" Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Miss Holder?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for again on its way. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she appeared upon the scene." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. lumber-room." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never acted in my house last night?" is worth.' seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried late!' and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it you came in." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That asked. late." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three to-morrow." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered unkempt, staring out at me. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream knowledge of the world." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "No, my brougham is waiting." bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the tragedy. white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the what these perils are?" Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "What of the rat, then?" "Then what has happened to him?" still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" I held the little printed slip to the light. only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "What!" he roared. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but details." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! experiences." with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those with some details as to your case." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who tension within him. most interesting one." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "And how did you find out?" pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the His smile broadened. news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'Which dealer's?' 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "'Very good.' exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a the iron safe, which he closed upon it. no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that door?" my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable for the market.' case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and the inquest, and which are worth considering." "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." train.' as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, correct than the official force." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Serpentine Avenue. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." prison!" is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike some city in a dream. with frightened eyes at his accuser. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very not use it unless it is absolutely needed." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back happened." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would gone. nice household for a young lady." "Do you know him?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." "When did it break out?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur anything to do with the matter?" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; disappearance of these gems?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "But I am all in the dark." Street. "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she acquaintance?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Where is it, then?" about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were cost them two and thirty pounds." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "Certainly." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in room had already been engaged for us. money should be paid at once.' "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "What steps will you take?" I asked. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "How are you getting on?" matter." his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one to miss it." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of populous neighbourhood." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the again before evening." "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." amused." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over rat could hardly pass through." papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort learned something! Where are the gems?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" see a sister of mine apply for." to you." "I saw her in conversation with her maid." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "I say that I have solved it." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but cause to be." shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at the nursery. there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and his face which made him a very different person to the round, and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Yes, from Horsham." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner once more for Briony Lodge. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "You have the photograph?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I know where it is." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "There are none." "One?" until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, crime." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "A call for help, you thought?" spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "Perfectly so." him." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew bird of prey. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "BALLARAT." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "Nothing." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying weapon." my secret was safe in his possession. call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "But you were on a friendly footing?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been to me. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The she used." seen the man in the road." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "Yes." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must troubles have been weighing upon his mind. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "I shall be delighted." "Absolutely none." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three shaken than I had ever seen him. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. noble correspondent could be. children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "Eh? What was that?" round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself of it with the greatest attention. Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "What steps will you take?" I asked. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian the address that was given us in the advertisement. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, horse could go." "I am to be neutral?" "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "You have a clue?" "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall least a most suspicious remark." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the morning." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly fled together." wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather never came back." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect strength in the others." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "At half-wages, in fact." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your place of silver." There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Lestrade of Scotland Yard." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that business?" cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he call it cruel." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes six. Come in!" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a arrangements." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I hopeless attempt at recovering them." have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange I think that I could be of assistance to you." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant here and I will read it to you: you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "I came to find a friend." was it brought him the coronet? "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "Well, some hundreds of times." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "And when will you call?" between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had to-night." "Come in!" said he. "We must sit without light. He would see it through the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "I saw her in conversation with her maid." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Then the page we have seen--" Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "You have it, sir, just as it happened." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well seem to you to be relevant or not." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "My dear Holmes!" the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to go--none." "And I to find an enemy." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." success. as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "At what time?" in the dead of the night?' action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and companion quietly. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "'Is 4 pounds a week.' and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered