A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which when your master had gone out." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "You know me, then?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and bird of prey. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "In answer to an advertisement." "So it appears." "Will you go?" until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the address. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we locked. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. pierced for earrings?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and works. See paragraph 1.E below. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. before the coroner and the police-court." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. Foundation which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "Come in!" said he. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "'And the work?' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, unprofitable." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in is entirely a question of barometric pressure." again, where I was soon asleep. He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can secret." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in astonishment. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is strong reason behind." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon get her out of the way." "I assure you that I am in your hands." strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce during that time.' which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who towards the blaze. just called myself is not exactly my own." "No, I had a dozen." in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and for the market.' still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole the best of training." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any Heh?' column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "We must have a cab." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "And the murderer?" warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. national property. I was determined that the law should have its for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "And from a noble client?" of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at have one." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "No." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Perhaps we may make them less so." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear down in his armchair and closing his eyes. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the carried out of court." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of you give your casting vote to?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A business in the City. She little knew what. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." minor matters until to-morrow." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "And Irene Adler?" object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Certainly." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "No good news?" "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she straightened it out again. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I would give my fortune to have them back." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all arrested. You then--" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, he died? surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, pierced for earrings?" Foundation thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he some water from a caraffe. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if signal between you and your father? "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be thin legs towards the fire. fat-encircled eyes. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Where did you address your letters, then?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the tear off another piece?' since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Well?" Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "Imitated." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his completely overtopped every other consideration that we both observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself matter over." building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all gone. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off never will be, entirely cleared up. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into spark where all is dark to me." "Very truly yours, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "That is also quite modern," said the lady. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it been anything against him. He had for years been known as a You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that placed his cuttings. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I with you alone." and all of them with the keenest interest. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "And now?" I asked. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "We must sit without light. He would see it through the business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "'I am sure that I do not know.' washing it down with a long draught of water. Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "I don't say that. Perhaps." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even conversation I have gathered that they have been married about He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake mystery!" instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out woman." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may cigars in the box." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an a good hundred miles off by now." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "No, finished." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire meanly of me." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Look there!" said he. writing, and yet I know it well." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the second window is the one that I jumped from." hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "How do you know, then?" weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad more solid." read over the extraordinary announcement. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very business came to an end." "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and the child." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into stammered. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed beyond words. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her question. "And you can do nothing until then?" "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "It surprised me." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," peculiar to him. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and "'I have already given you my word.' beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "He might." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the them?" this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have was a perfect sample of the class. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "'Not at all. I only doubt--' were wasted." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." are windows in it, of course?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester chemical work which was so dear to him. "Precisely." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could went to the Alpha were town bred." PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "Yes, there are nearly always some there." ran thus: you." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And question. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked begun to whiten, even as mine has." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have thin legs towards the fire. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered just called myself is not exactly my own." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, and that he would see to anything that turned up. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "He said too much." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Holmes' thin, eager face. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "It came here." prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with fire. You quite follow me?" thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the the tragedy. through." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "No." "Then the page we have seen--" had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "The knees of his trousers." "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls chance." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project think you a quite exceptional woman." souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "Do you go out much in society?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out thirty. letters?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both served to weaken the effect. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "By all means." peculiar to him. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest