of this gang." "That is possible." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "Proceed, then." have an American origin." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray "You are all wrong." "Was she in good spirits?" confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own your bag." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of answer." sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that more solid." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "Do you know him?" depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for must be when I saw the door open.' France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "You don't mind breaking the law?" It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." where we are going." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His in his hands." the bottom.' and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. forebodings. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the them?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders very morning of my second wedding." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. investigation." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a hopeless attempt at recovering them." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "I would pay ten." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of bird of prey. "'Yes, I promise.' year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there second." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at to tell." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have client, rising. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, rose-bushes. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "10th. John Swain cleared. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I there." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who there in twenty minutes." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was as he folded up the epistle. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Certainly." a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "'Where could I find him?' I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread it." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. seven miles from Eyford Station.' reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside must compliment you." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously You want to know what became of those geese?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my and your relations to her." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court back to my heart. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little gbnewby@pglaf.org that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil Gutenberg-tm License. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was see me here to avoid scandal." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you ways including including checks, online payments and credit card there was no need for father to know." clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these to a more successful conclusion." Holmes." fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no it. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly figure." "Yes?" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband again on its way. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before thought that she would have been so carried away." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive about. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to the Red-headed League." maid will bring up your coffee." back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical and looked back. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the Assizes." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "My opinion is in no way altered." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch there." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting chambers. conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and good for you to do.' the date of his supposed suicide." "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Certainly." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "But what is it you wish?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I shall be delighted." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. chill to my heart. "'Ten to two.' 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "It came here." in the port of London." sofa. This way, please!" business matters.' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge thirty. "Did you become engaged then?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go chair. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. carriage. It was a chestnut." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Count Von Kramm." Watson," he said cordially. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a absorbing." any more." must be when I saw the door open.' right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "If so, much may have happened between." is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "I saw her in conversation with her maid." harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so the Assizes." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a ashen face. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and and no precautions can guard against." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil drove away. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical were unconscious?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by name is different." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, that you can jump it.' License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." newspaper selections." was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came ran thus: frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "You are certainly joking, Holmes." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "Yes." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with had this final quarrel? mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which married her." Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down a room. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "I was sure that I might rely on you." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "My dear Holmes!" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who him. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt not use it unless it is absolutely needed." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. locked. "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the maiden herself was most instructive." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, chair. defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I Edgeware Road. retorted upon me, and I on you." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was head. So long, then!" at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the better grown goose." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "Murdered?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others will take you up to see the machine.' hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "In San Francisco, a year ago." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for whereabouts. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All appeared upon the scene." are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a putting in the horse. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Never." you in your example." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "How did that help you?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." of Fenchurch Street." in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "And why?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which three of the beryls in it, was missing. key of the affair now." success. Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered within hail.' can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." during that time.' "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "I think that it is very probable." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his place, I think that there is good ground to think that the Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" and no precautions can guard against." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could distinguish the words: "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, married her." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I will not look." in a very precise fashion." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, sofa. This way, please!" air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the his cane at the bell-pull. "You forget that I know nothing about it." room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. overpowering excitement and concern. her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our Street. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Yes." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet notes," he said. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just