right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence you." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to status with the IRS. your bag." fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of very old mansion. "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "You have a clue?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned affair. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "The Cedars?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "And who is her maid?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, beg that you will break it off." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." neither fascinating nor artistic." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you with the outside air!" You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "What office?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for thin legs towards the fire. "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has third from London." Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of examine." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Nothing." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my certainly do as you advise." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between help us in this matter." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Then what has happened to him?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the coronet in his hands?" them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very again." been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the brain must have something in it." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. that threaten you." so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. miles off. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, You can understand that this register and diary may implicate certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. Holmes' face clouded over. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "I say it is." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first deduce something from that?" month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say the inquest, and which are worth considering." noise which awoke you from your sleep?" part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a kind enough to tell me what I should do." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the think that he is innocent?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge least a most suspicious remark." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "I am following you closely," I answered. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, passage and a tap at the door. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so status with the IRS. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. without a word or a look. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last peculiar to him. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our his eyes and forehead. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn silent! Oh, he will be silent!' forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "I have seen the police." "None." interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she rooms." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, This is what he says: accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons details." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Oh, the cause is excellent!" to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Quite so." friends, not even his own brother. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "'I am sure if I had known--' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." Project Gutenberg-tm works. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a II. least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "I am to be neutral?" be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than the one as in the other." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you get her out of the way." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Did your wife hear all this?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. woven round him. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Holmes." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which a room. "Never to return." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "No, thank goodness, she did not." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies telegram would bring me down to your help." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much said Mr. Holder. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Not particularly." "Which are?" the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in fire. You quite follow me?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I pressing in one house as in another. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the late." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, figure." out." the house with me." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in thin legs towards the fire. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is unkempt, staring out at me. meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. sufficient punishment." thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of of." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, to that open window." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were questioning and rather startled gaze. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are and I shall be with you presently." so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which which our visitor detailed to us. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will mystery!" customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the the dangers which encompass me." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Pope's Court. do." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "'It is locked up,' I answered. never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered speckled band?" door?" "Of what?" "My own seal." "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the like that before?" But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "The Coroner: What do you mean? story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, just called myself is not exactly my own." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "The murder was done with it." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "It was an hour's good drive." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is that threaten you." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one bears upon the case?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "You think so, too?" "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "'Yes.' preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "And Miss Sutherland?" police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this on re-entering her father's house?" "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless helping a boy to put up the shutters. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of "An accident, I presume?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and have this put in the evening papers." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if to you." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so official police." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Yes, sir." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will that you wished to speak to me?' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for dear old homesteads?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to bell. Holmes whistled. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I heavy and sharp instrument." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel over here." my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, will be renamed. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. interested in these little problems, and since you are good persecution?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking get her out of the way." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "Then how many are there?" will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. hair?' profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "What then?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after in your London, you will know that the office of the company is of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "10th. John Swain cleared. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, with the outside air!" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he and looked back. moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding