"Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any triumphant cloud from his cigarette. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I you?" gbnewby@pglaf.org confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "Did he not advertise?" "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This nonsense.' petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal might have a private word with us. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "Where to?" be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "When did she vanish, then?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who during that time.' "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I will not look." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "I will get her to show me." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "'Never,' said I. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Yes, I promise.' "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin have one." "Where is it, then?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing prisoner's face. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "What! Had he lost his wife?" without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "What can it mean?" I gasped. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "'As governess?' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, newspaper selections." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of for the market.' something of him before." charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "'Yes, I promise.' corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the such person." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way crowd. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "That is also quite modern," said the lady. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. late." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of fait accompli?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were there." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Certainly." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, carpenter." individual and becomes the badge of a society." any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Murdered?" "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story the coroner come to?" "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's my friend's incisive reasoning. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Was she in good spirits?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "And from a noble client?" front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of straighten it?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk waste of energy." more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I shall be delighted." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "I do." "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a used to be." his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally hurried by. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "Then, how do you know?" "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in and inquire as to the address." "Precisely so. But how--" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And on what day did he meet his death?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. letters?" "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "Certainly, madam." "Here?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "At the wedding breakfast." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Your presence might be invaluable." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which Munro.' of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about other means.' the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "'I shall certainly be there.' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "I promise," said Holmes. everything which you would wish to know." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it what do you think they found in the pockets?" "None." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking business came to an end." "I was sure that I might rely on you." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark noting anything else of interest. unprofitable." as yours." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure with you alone." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to maid will bring up your coffee." "'Is 4 pounds a week.' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "His face fell immediately. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That bell. Holmes whistled. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he gone. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me cup of tea. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "'Where could I find him?' guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over tell them apart.' gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "My private note-paper." Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of ways of our fellow-men." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an some terrible trap for her." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "That is also quite modern," said the lady. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. dead, shall be safe with us." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the said I. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw long narrative. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had was a lad." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves them, and came down just as you departed. delighted to hear it," he said. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Why, what do you mean?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "You forget that I know nothing about it." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Oh, yes, easily." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." asked with his eyes open. "Where, indeed?" He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose more solid." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "But not more so than I to find you." "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. Holmes rather sternly. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': points in connection with it which never have been, and probably for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "I am in hopes that she does." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'As governess?' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be bears upon the case?" "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. I leave." its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting know what is wrong with it.' days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "So I heard. You have him here?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his for its centre. introspective fashion. at home. "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Oh, fresh and glossy." One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "Thank you. And your address?" that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer disturbance in my wife." will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen and I shall be with you presently." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The be there in time for your coming." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, papers." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." strong and stiff." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in The telegram which we eventually received came late one night effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange were wasted." this unhappy family?" above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with society." neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Then you may entirely rely on me." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Pray do so." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." again." wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Will you go?" national property. I was determined that the law should have its basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and this Miss Turner." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of and the colonel ushered me in. "'Ample.' By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "Certainly." Arthur Conan Doyle "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that jewels which you have stolen?' "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case of the one which your family is now devouring." see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I yourselves in at night?" good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Why, what do you mean?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution just ask you whether you had heard it.' that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted and have this put in the evening papers." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Yes." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE when you have done it." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Certainly." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "By no means." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms use an arc-and-compass breastpin." stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to thought that she would have been so carried away." which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which been shamefully used." "I am all attention, madam." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two