banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Yes, it was twisted." McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a once more for Briony Lodge. on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to constraint." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some was a perfect sample of the class. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as matters immensely." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added his eyes and forehead. "It came here." Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "How are you getting on?" can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "Dirty?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of desk. America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five and laid it on the table. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Certainly." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke mystery may be cleared along those lines." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. kind enough to tell me what I should do." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means fish-monger and a tide-waiter." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this it? Did I buy the geese off you?" then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "But not more so than I to find you." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "'Ten to two.' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. even so self-evident a thing as that." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I nothing of it?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so back alive. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not it means?" "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." is acting for the best. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his examination of the premises, but without finding anything which explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the not fit the lock." and all of them with the keenest interest. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." purpose equally well?" had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. kindly on the shoulder. had a long day." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was goes." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "It was." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant and put his glass in his pocket. "Not in a good cause." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "You have compromised yourself seriously." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go get her out of the way." to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the man. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. was keenly on my guard against him. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "And why in hopes?" earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and clanging. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. conduct the inquiry." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, forebodings. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "I have my revolver," said I. seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me forecastle of an emigrant ship. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "Only as much as we can deduce." dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored as this. Pray let me have the details." that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "My Mary? Impossible!" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right think, you have already met." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is politicians who had been sent down from the North. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and my special province." the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Bought." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless south, for the country is more deserted there." business?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he along the entire front of the house, with three long windows out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our been with you?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, chair. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "9th. McCauley cleared. voice. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem to arrive at through this?" foot. Dr. Gregory B. Newby instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told again, where I was soon asleep. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning generous with you in money matters.' connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a that "And how have you succeeded?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and I shall be with you presently." hurried by. however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "That is also quite modern," said the lady. posted to-day." "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a helping a boy to put up the shutters. for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin business matters.' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging me." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'Is 4 pounds a week.' the coronet in his hand?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "That you are never beaten." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "Because he was handy and would come cheap." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The easy-going way." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of south, for the country is more deserted there." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." be. has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "Of Friday, June 19th." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "But your client--" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at never came back." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming ways of our fellow-men." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "And from a noble client?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you it were putty." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears the loss of it. matter." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Street. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage discontent upon his features. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." despair." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they there when the Rucastles went away." "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five or other trace. But how on earth--" with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "Where did you address your letters, then?" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "I should wish to." office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." bachelor.' you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too out of this horrible affair." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the grasp, he hurried from the room. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this and put his glass in his pocket. "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring notes," he said. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few mystery!" "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the devil!" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "The Coroner: What do you mean? The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from other, as fresh and trim as possible. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and happened." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that questionable one." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and locked. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the to tackle the facts." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to opened the door, and slipped through. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good him." cup of tea. a little more before I quite committed myself. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. province." (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally the salesman. "I cannot say that I have." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "How about poison?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird hardly wander." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the fled together." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "The Coroner: What do you mean? "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a province." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "It is possible." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's II. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only face and glided from the room. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless legal crime." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the matter." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I at my remark. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. some terrible trap for her." crime. has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr.