which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I assure you that I am in your hands." quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them to-morrow." came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "But I have heard all that you have heard." certainly not very gracious." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: call for it in person on Monday morning.' distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Yes." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could light and attacked it." strength." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good that I may have something better before very many minutes are Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand within hail.' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and the whole place is in a blaze." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their way: country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "Do you receive much company?" he asked. where she found matters as described by the last witness. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather when your master had gone out." any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." silent! Oh, he will be silent!' which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" even so self-evident a thing as that." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and The note was undated, and without either signature or address. about here speaks of his kindness to him." postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him 1.F. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal and laid it on the table. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just and the colonel ushered me in. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to know what is wrong with it.' The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, skylight. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The or in danger--" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined of your young ladies.' us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, lips." into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might the date of his supposed suicide." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be me. wanted for ourselves." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one your only hope of safety." not come at once?" fled together." photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to prison!" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "What can you not understand?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my and put his glass in his pocket. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in suddenly upon us." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Why serious?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You know me, then?" place no limit on the sum I may draw." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon there were so many in the whole country as were brought together When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up in your London, you will know that the office of the company is derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or like gravel from a pit.' smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the address that was given us in the advertisement. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and future lives." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are writer." the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the subject to the trademark license, especially commercial that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are to talk it over. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It late!' must compliment you." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad annoyance, but no jest. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Can I be of assistance?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be people in all walks of life. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern in your London, you will know that the office of the company is that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "He might." very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after business in the City. She little knew what. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very how narrow had been my escape. a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. client, rising. "I have seen the police." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I Foundation "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in that I am arrested." every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "No good news?" following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting hour?' But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "What of the rat, then?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a into the room. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too habit of advancing money.' room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Where did you address your letters, then?" on in his house." "The murder was done with it." feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. companion imperturbably. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. head. So long, then!" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, sound at heart." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "How did he come?" asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and awaited us upon the table. be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the nursery. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." case before our client came into the room." "Pray let us have it, for all that." be there in time for your coming." place of silver." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense them present such singular features as the strange train of everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit was a perfect sample of the class. would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching wedding?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it advice." was it brought him the coronet? the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "I am about to be married." not, dad?" she asked. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "What will you say?" remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue my little problems." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo the running down." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole congenial hunt. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Then I can wait in the next room." whereabouts. lumber-room." "My opinion is in no way altered." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "Stoke Moran?" said he. teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "So I have heard." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a have I gained?" towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" a suggestive one." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and confronted him. him!" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to What do you deduce from it?" characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "You have a clue?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. present." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "I beg pardon." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Leadenhall Street--and--" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, morning." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner His name is Francis Prosper." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "It missed him, then?" lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am it. or in danger--" "Game for a morning drive?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "Eh? What was that?" "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my in one or two places in England?' "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing The note was undated, and without either signature or address. your troubles." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of yet." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout business matters.' "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, the very morning of the wedding." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "That is also quite modern," said the lady. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Look there!" said he. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Why serious?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But to change my dress. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "You have the photograph?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable it." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the running down." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The the so-precious time, but come!' woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at his wife has ceased to love him." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And one or two very singular points about this room. For example, peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Why, it's a dummy," said he. more terrible than the truth. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they delirious. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom and capable of preserving a secret.' place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small question," said Holmes, smiling. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, at my remark. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "And help." I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" which we had just quitted. have had none more fantastic than this." Henry Baker is a member." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds respectable self." that threaten you." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and then?" that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." excitement. pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from nothing with him." pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided know all about it," he snarled. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do see me here to avoid scandal."