Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal What do you deduce from it?" "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of eat it." the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg what is your own theory as to what took place?" known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to suggested at once that there must be a communication between the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City tell them apart.' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" window when the police appeared." Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a Dr. Gregory B. Newby the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "To an English lawyer named Norton." was it brought him the coronet? "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'A dozen yards or so.' would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty business in the City. She little knew what. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "If so, much may have happened between." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "None." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "But I have heard all that you have heard." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to room. "Where to?" jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her is so. I know all about McCarthy." done what I asked you, Jones?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more enough to aid us in our search." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it least a most suspicious remark." be.' "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was the coronet at all injured?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had peculiar to him. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, seven miles from Eyford Station.' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the iron safe, which he closed upon it. "'What then?' I asked. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Where, then?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to interested in these little problems, and since you are good everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. was it brought him the coronet? assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," 'please.'" worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still tell them apart.' think that he is innocent?" "Nothing." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the correct than the official force." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle instincts rose up against that laugh. day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An floor. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me congenial hunt. now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "Nothing." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his shoulder. Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had ceremony." gives a meaning to it." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "I answered that I had not. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait galvanised. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "You think that he is dead?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a placed his cuttings. said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair started for the Temple to see my husband. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully business in the City. She little knew what. Heh?' pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would there in twenty minutes." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed a little more before I quite committed myself. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to outbreak?" "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You to affect your life." "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Will you go?" town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon my former friend and companion. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "You know me, then?" round with crates and massive boxes. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well married her." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "By all means." Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that disturbance in my wife." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against really the only notable feature about the thing." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "What is it, then--a fire?" fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too the running down." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "Perhaps we may make them less so." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His the devil!" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a like that before?" was it brought him the coronet? "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "But how will you look?" Pope's Court, Fleet Street." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to knowledge of the world." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Texas, I think." see a sister of mine apply for." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He corner of the building. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not the Friday. Was it to be in church?" that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his nights." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "How did you trace it, then?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "You have but to name it." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Married! When?" say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'What then?' I asked. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I him to go away.' to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he of the efforts of the United States government and of the better be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such should be taken.' established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "My last client of the sort was a king." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "How often?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove the Red-headed League." fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the himself in a perplexing position. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Yes, but only for you and me." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, Sholtos." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the which should have the effect of calling the attention of the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress asked. Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must examination of the premises, but without finding anything which took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Nor running a chance of arrest?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "In answer to an advertisement." outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." matter." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was noble correspondent could be. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward you." "I cannot tell." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the death." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any fuss that is made over them." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. wife's character?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite careless servant girl?" roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "The rest you will leave in our hands." trifles." "It came here." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was even so self-evident a thing as that." good-night and bustled off upon her way. hour?' leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and existence." row." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon are, and they are waiting for us." "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "And Irene Adler?" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project and files of the old papers, following the future career of every envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "'Why that?' I asks. "So I am. Very much so." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "No, but the enclosure is." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would kindly on the shoulder. system of imprisonment?" enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than this truth that in these little records of our cases which you Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Bought." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which call the police, let the police find what they can.' true." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you young Openshaw's." outbreak?" a suggestive one." his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from and effective." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the entirely lost his self-respect." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in jewels which you have stolen?' of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely detained." spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting done what I asked you, Jones?" were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That bill, which interests me deeply." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Murdered?" act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, you." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would way: knowledge of the world." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm what is your own theory as to what took place?" signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will II. waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke nonsense.' with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "You have compromised yourself seriously." awaited us upon the table. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "Very murderous indeed." multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. and the colonel ushered me in. excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I