King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a perplexity from it to my illustrious client. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal read it out to me." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to assist you in forming an opinion." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like fashion which was peculiar to him. presented more singular features than that which was associated "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Nothing?" depend upon my doing so.' "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring chemical work which was so dear to him. occupations.' residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Why? What do you mean?" "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "What have you to say now?" here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "By train from Waterloo." "But the mystery?" outsides of the windows. part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "I warn you that they are very incomplete." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the was not a bird to be seen there. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was remarked. "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, him and tried to hold him back. think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked place of silver." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with was a lad." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you want, then?' "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though is a common subject for conversation. was feeling which was the fattest.' "'In my own bureau.' the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door read over the extraordinary announcement. any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional and all of them with the keenest interest. "And now?" He raised his hand. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "An accident, I presume?" to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "What?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for like that before?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them carriage. It was a chestnut." "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton fact, we may call it conclusive." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "You were travelling in the States?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by had a long day." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "Yes." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be into the bag, and made for the door. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, During two years I have had three consultations and one small as he remarks, very much against the son." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love as he folded up the epistle. "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new the devil!" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "He disappeared so suddenly." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking gbnewby@pglaf.org "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further at home. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a have established a very serious case against the son of the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Not social, then?" civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I conduct the inquiry." said I. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question with you alone." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said my secret was safe in his possession. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "One of the highest in England." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his been able to understand it, in a very few words. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together call the police, let the police find what they can.' Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some brain must have something in it." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "Then you may entirely rely on me." mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it "Nothing." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her troubles have been weighing upon his mind. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "It is possible." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For nice household for a young lady." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "I answered that I had not. "The landlord of the Alpha." had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "That was it, sir." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left Lee, in the county of Kent." doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or not, dad?" she asked. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the sooner or later she must fall a victim. meanly of me." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission way: ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The whatever might befall. gives a meaning to it." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little there were one or two details which were new to me. But the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different things are very often connected not with the larger but with the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "It surprised me." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "What will you do, then?" "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the this remarkable episode. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour interest. They are important, you understand, without being and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that me. it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see definite end. "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, photograph a cabinet?" "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a tear off another piece?' in his power. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "And what then?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with chance." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "None." was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he good-night and bustled off upon her way. bill, which interests me deeply." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. highly," said Holmes. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable taking in every detail of the apartment. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last there is a decided draught." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new Foundation wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "My dear Holmes!" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "'I am sure that I do not know.' "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' against a man in the prime of life?" takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the money should be paid at once.' nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "He is dead," cried several voices. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, some city in a dream. dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was this remarkable episode. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my had picked up in the wood. cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. one of the states of the Union." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be over here." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Your presence might be invaluable." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Yes. He waved his hands." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the directors, with the result that you have seen." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I sit on the left-hand side of the driver." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "By no means." "ARAT," I read. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at figure." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the be.' posted to-day." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and me." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Precisely so. But how--" "What then?" returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "But your client--" instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "We were both in the photograph." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, noble correspondent could be. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." main points of my analysis." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "And now?" He raised his hand. Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "Stolen, then." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one crowd. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been it." make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" Edgeware Road. to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Yes. He waved his hands." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up horse could go." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped that threaten you." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, something of him before." fishes. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. meanly of me." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Very truly yours, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A outbreak?" business matters.' case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a crackling voice. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the gentleman's clothes. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 this unhappy family?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "I should be immensely obliged to you." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "You think that he is dead?" To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, know all about it," he snarled. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and man. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. dates and names. beyond words. enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with have an American origin." him to be an active member of the medical profession." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have posted to-day." "My dear Holmes!" ventilator." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys good for you to do.' the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that go back?" remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been where she found matters as described by the last witness. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "My stepfather's business papers." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family