had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I guessed as much." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Mary, has deserted me." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would one else, I think." its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which or other trace. But how on earth--" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest absorbing." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. kind enough to tell me what I should do." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "No, I am descending." weighed down with some great anxiety. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it relation between them, and what the object of his repeated carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the fattened it expressly for you.' I shall communicate with you." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "And help." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our fire. You quite follow me?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we colonel looking down at me. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the the inquest, and which are worth considering." "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried never came back." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? tension within him. was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry 11:15.' of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me which are rolled in Rotterdam." interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." province." License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this interests were the same as his." hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Then you may entirely rely on me." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may so.' over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom the station." already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his you understand?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It strong reason behind." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman remarked. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Quite so." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. sneer upon his pale face. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "You heard nothing yourself last night?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the constraint." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "The Cedars?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "VIOLET HUNTER." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding take the flies, but not before." his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are reach." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the general public were present, then?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "Nothing." works. See paragraph 1.E below. http://www.gutenberg.net ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "So I heard. You have him here?" "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, orange pips. "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help to a light-house. 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "Has he come with you to-night?" corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on unclasping of his long thin hands. observed. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here possible that we could bring him back to her? There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more your billet.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Not particularly." The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it "And the cigar-holder?" woman who has had her own way to make in the world. the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" about. "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the I have it here in my museum." lamp in his hand. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." you understand?" "The doctor?" you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers conduct the inquiry." could go. blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of just ask you whether you had heard it.' approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "By no means." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. for securing the situation." sake, don't!" "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out which was all perfectly true. in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a said I. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "'Never.' serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I help us in this matter." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "I cannot say that I have." over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my behind me. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I pressing in one house as in another. happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. once more. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right asked. Holmes rather sternly. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement recover the gem." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most problems help me to do so." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or morning." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave States. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the character. Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "An enemy?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been one which it was hard to resist. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at said Mr. Holder. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Of Friday, June 19th." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Not in a good cause." visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we Literary Archive Foundation "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "And you don't know his address?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "What is it?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, clanging. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently here." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one without success. At last the little money which I had saved began my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Well?" after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it there!' brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a here." know what is wrong with it.' late!' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." letters?" "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, voice. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" he bowed and left the room without another word. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you take the flies, but not before." use an arc-and-compass breastpin." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "And how did you verify them?" "No good news?" hair?' there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "My dear Holmes!" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Very. But will he see it?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm presented more singular features than that which was associated threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will laugh and put his lips to my ear. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Then I do not see the point." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without felt the room to be a little close.' lamp in his hand. "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' not as remarkable as your advertisement." last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution arrangements." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Count Von Kramm." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Ah, but I was recommended to you." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Not social, then?" "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to whole matter to your consideration." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "But not more so than I to find you." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by tapping his fingers upon the table. mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the opportunities to fix the problem. impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Then how many are there?" "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the the running down." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was me have 200 pounds?' "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if "No more words. Get out!" "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "The knees of his trousers." now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Can I be of assistance?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the words came to my lips. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by occupations.' anything to do with the matter?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in one which it was hard to resist. until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been point in the dark hollow of his hand. little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take yet." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred is four-and-twenty." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for call you and give you the chance." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in the dead of the night?' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City money should be paid at once.' "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared sneer upon his pale face. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that province." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is where we are going." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet with you?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood congratulate you again." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "Frequently."