"But how?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate Mrs. Toller serenely. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more Chief Executive and Director few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Holmes' thin, eager face. the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth wedding?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been one of them." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive strong and stiff." gone before you can get him to hospital." "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'I have heard so.' France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say confronted him. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been you give your casting vote to?" that, and I came down." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, forbidden door. in the dead of the night?' states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had will not take me long to tell. far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I like that before?" "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I character. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than that?' always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "But his left-handedness." ventilator." "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should your most interesting statement." Munro.' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast breakfast." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." introspective fashion. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the believe that I should never have any practice at all. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots then?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "My dear Holmes!" the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." there!' had picked up in the wood. "How did you deduce the select?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, about. routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "'Oh, no.' "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and towards the blaze. "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "It is no ordinary one." words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this some mystery and the punishment of some crime." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would remarked. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, will take you up to see the machine.' "But not more so than I to find you." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty for and were ordered to this address. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do quickly through a disagreeable task. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. enough to aid us in our search." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "And you thought he was pulled back?" entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Dirty?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them not within a twentieth part of the market price." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "How can you tell that?" nothing with him." chambers. It was close upon four before the door opened, and a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "My Mary? Impossible!" while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. she used." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Ha! you find it so?" "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. upon a handsome competence. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I mysterious end." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate if she died from some sudden fright." from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of This is what he says: "'What are you doing there?' he asked. companion quietly. disturbance in my wife." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last unprofitable." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "Have you her photograph?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of highly," said Holmes. change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally maiden herself was most instructive." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "'I am sure if I had known--' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. and a shock of very red hair. conversation I have gathered that they have been married about to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and second." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present letters?" dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." towards the blaze. "Come in!" said Holmes. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Did your wife hear all this?" was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some characteristics, but those are the more obvious." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Street. "BALLARAT." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "And how have you succeeded?" fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the the address that was given us in the advertisement. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal correct than the official force." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "What! You do not mean bodies?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "I would give my fortune to have them back." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his here and I will read it to you: time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "The knees of his trousers." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you point our research must commence, and we will begin it by was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." in his power. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife answered with a sidelong glance. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Imitated." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "And your mother is alive?" the nursery. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. papers." "You are hungry," I remarked. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Where, then, is my wife?" writing, and yet I know it well." Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and wait." himself. "To an English lawyer named Norton." hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself without success. At last the little money which I had saved began considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project this unhappy family?" "And I to find an enemy." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out here and I will read it to you: was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace advice." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. question," said Holmes, smiling. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. maiden herself was most instructive." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had in your London, you will know that the office of the company is some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Who was the criminal, then?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than standing smiling on the door-step. "I beg pardon." "'Yes, I promise.' Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is it means?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "No, my brougham is waiting." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at fire. You quite follow me?" "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the could gather together that I was able to avert another public "'Is purely nominal.' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a voice, changing her seat as requested. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Yes, sir.' it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "It missed him, then?" transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "And the murderer?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip there when the Rucastles went away." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "It is possible." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for conclusions. towards the blaze. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a most interesting one." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "You don't mind breaking the law?" like that before?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge States. kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Have you her photograph?" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, knowledge of the world." and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "And how did you find out?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent plantation.' husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback DISSOLVED. "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, events than those which have happened in my own family." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and some city in a dream. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think carried out of court." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Perhaps I have." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture "Stoke Moran?" said he. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will disappearance of the bride.'" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed bedroom door." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one points to suicide?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk said he. make me his representative both with the servants and with the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned is four-and-twenty." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before ordinary clothes on?" right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of