Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of not, dad?" she asked. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders sentimental considerations in the background which would induce returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" be. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "And why in hopes?" "My photograph." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Can I be of assistance?" his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our presented which may be striking and bizarre without being the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "And Miss Sutherland?" answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "I promise," said Holmes. fluttered off among the others. who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Then how many are there?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank nothing of it?" "I cannot tell." 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "How often?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was his knees, staring into the fire. the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "It was a confession," I ejaculated. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "I am all attention, madam." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her I took the paper from him and read as follows: retorted upon me, and I on you." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. have established a very serious case against the son of the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could in the hope of finding them." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Dirty?" Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of "Not I." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert constraint." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his that, and I came down." with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is bonnet, and went out." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated too. "And how did he make his money?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he of them has the shutters up.' "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with might have a private word with us. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "No, thank goodness, she did not." second window is the one that I jumped from." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she "Where, indeed?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a said I. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." ceremony." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "He is dead," cried several voices. "But who is he?" Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." footfalls from the street. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the taking in every detail of the apartment. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "You have the photograph?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and think that any burglar could have done. "And when will you call?" bell. Holmes whistled. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all a monotonous occupation." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which shall use the carriage to-night." practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the noise which awoke you from your sleep?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling danger is over." copied or distributed: his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut The King stared at him in amazement. Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I unclasping of his long thin hands. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the "I am all attention, madam." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of one of the states of the Union." chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it ran thus: "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at cigars in their mouths. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Stolen." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause go from here to the Strand." "No legal papers or certificates?" Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I am not easy in my mind about them." fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and me upon any point which I do not make clear." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the inner apartment." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "It missed him, then?" "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through into the room. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Yes, sir." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And that is--" gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most himself in a perplexing position. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is his fortune, and I went back to pa. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every guilty one." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "How can you tell that?" conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "BALLARAT." speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "It is half-past ten now." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its night.' said he. assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which electronic works that you wished to speak to me?' drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the do you make of it all?" ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Pray do so." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "I don't say that. Perhaps." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged II. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "'Never.' IS you came in." eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Lee, in the county of Kent." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "I am sure." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for arrangements." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me posted to-day." Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." any little problem which you may submit to me." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only was it brought him the coronet? I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid have established a very serious case against the son of the up this clue while it is still hot." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "Awake, Watson?" he asked. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "One horse?" interjected Holmes. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "I cannot tell." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of What do you deduce from it?" at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His rooms." morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I politicians who had been sent down from the North. it with his own hands." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "So I have heard." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ over with notes and figures. "Yes." will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "I assure you that I am in your hands." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of fat-encircled eyes. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "I don't say that. Perhaps." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "No. His orders were to stay in the house." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Perhaps I have." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the I took the paper from him and read as follows: forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we could go. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the the loss of it. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be that the gas is not laid on in his house?" to have been novel and of interest." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went suspect him." "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. mysterious end." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "And why?" when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but cause to be." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to over with notes and figures. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." throat." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the your sleep?' The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Have you good authority for what you say?" finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action in. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "That is easily got." "Just look it up, then." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "There are none." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Game for a morning drive?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Where, then?" I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of leave you to your papers for a little." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in present strange and interesting features that it is no easy round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "'I am sure if I had known--' compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to suspect him." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a and the church but not where the lady lived." more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under are, I think, all that we need." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Doctor, of the paper and the date." than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing to-night?" I asked. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as that he has suffered." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "'Yes, it was gone.' you give your casting vote to?" "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during you, my dear young lady?' you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I think it very unlikely." card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes detective. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls companion imperturbably. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said gives a meaning to it." that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his