active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave papers diligently of late, have you not?" manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's held up the lantern and gazed about him. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock fatally injured? misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had crackling voice. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "Then you may be so with me." correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked gone. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded observed. wife's character?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my his huge brown hands. greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done away into the river." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'There is a drive, then?' "So I am. Very much so." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. hurried away. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up papers." "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." better in every way that they should make their position a little and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I will, Miss Turner." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" the very morning of the wedding." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. felt the room to be a little close.' Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than to me. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Could he throw no light?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "This photograph!" without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "Yes." spare." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "I have a cab outside." an introduction to him?" "I never have." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of the south-west, I see." Young McCarthy must be got off, however." if only as a check to my own memory." him to be an active member of the medical profession." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and fasten all the windows?" quickly through a disagreeable task. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" to have that photograph." grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an husband's writing, madam." presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he yourselves in at night?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about depend upon your compliance." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." tied." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. locked." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "It certainly sounds feasible." chance at all." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to some other building. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Pray do so." "And Miss Sutherland?" fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would outside." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in fashion which was peculiar to him. "Yes." she to prove their authenticity?" me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious little adventures." the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to attention." and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he charge against him will break down." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands 'please.'" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Come in!" said Holmes. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither mystery may be cleared along those lines." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "It is true that I have been generally successful." Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion clang of the bell. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" a room. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "None." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "And when will you call?" called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, back alive. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself to go into your room and bar your shutters?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that chance." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. me where it went to?" the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." to-night." crime." joking. "'Certainly not.' letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." sufficient punishment." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been breakfast." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of companion. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold placed his cuttings. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a persecution?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the sooner or later she must fall a victim. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." letters?" to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Why, it's a dummy," said he. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has became a certainty. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. my little problems." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner but preventing her from injuring another. have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "What then?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three you came in." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I am to be neutral?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "Really! You surprise me." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." seen the man in the road." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "You saw the ventilator, too?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Then he might have called to you?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all that you wished to speak to me?' look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his fait accompli?" Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot straighten it?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah directors, with the result that you have seen." "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch invisible to me," I remarked. round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, front of me. "'In my own bureau.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that visitors." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" guilty parties." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Ha! you find it so?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, rat could hardly pass through." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the very morning of the wedding." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it more terrible than the truth. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. way in." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Pray be precise as to details," said he. simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that obstinate." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of you came in." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he comes from the middle window." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my leaning back in his chair. young Openshaw's." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the individual and becomes the badge of a society." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." woman." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to been lifted and conveyed somewhere." locked. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "You have the photograph?" "I was afraid that you were engaged." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than the stable lane now." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" she slowly sank and died without having recovered her waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "My dear Holmes!" and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of strong reason behind." be. me." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "'What, the red-headed man?' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the girl said." "Is he quiet?" agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening roused himself from his reverie. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such might help us?" little adventures." it." turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would