And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of directors, with the result that you have seen." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior him!" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. hopeless attempt at recovering them." straighten it?" "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. south, for the country is more deserted there." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "About a month then." "ARAT," I read. "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Have you it here?" I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Perhaps I have." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in neither fascinating nor artistic." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are people in all walks of life. "I don't say that. Perhaps." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in himself to tell his story. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger thirty. me upon any point which I do not make clear." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that business at Coburg Square is serious." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his ventilator." In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an the very morning of the wedding." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from for securing the situation." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "'In my own bureau.' asked with his eyes open. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my key of the affair now." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "My last client of the sort was a king." old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "'Why that?' I asks. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "You horrify me!" "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little legal crime." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Foundation "At what time?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at the inner apartment." horse could go." the matter?" back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Absolutely?" wanted for ourselves." "In the cells." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible Again Holmes raved in the air. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That her also." "Why? What do you mean?" "Was he the only applicant?" of them has the shutters up.' the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able nonsense.' "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were that I can to serve you." III. pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so of it with the greatest attention. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face conversation I have gathered that they have been married about in this way: and all of them with the keenest interest. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was showing my impatience. "And I." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "The knees of his trousers." "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "What do you mean?" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My as yours." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed my room." passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of writers could invent nothing more crude." depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic depend upon your compliance." with the outside air!" "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should walking." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the best of training." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I the Assizes." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months be. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "I cannot say that I have." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me them?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, woman who has had her own way to make in the world. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Perhaps we may make them less so." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the with her." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick asked. I leave." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "If I can be of use." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "I see many objections to any such theory." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom back to my heart. shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I best detective that ever lived. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day bled considerably." disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "You forget that I know nothing about it." to his chemical studies. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips works. See paragraph 1.E below. along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped passage and a tap at the door. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his which are rolled in Rotterdam." at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" to have been novel and of interest." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she behind me. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's direction." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of whether it answered to the description of any of their They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in information in his hands the value of which he did not himself what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. strong and stiff." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided appeared upon the scene." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Imitated." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, call you and give you the chance." "Never to return." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the but preventing her from injuring another. like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a legal crime." it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" are, I think, all that we need." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil ready to-morrow?' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same not, dad?" she asked. you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "By train from Waterloo." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! Arthur Conan Doyle When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and country, and eventually married, without anyone having a hopeless attempt at recovering them." time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "My last client of the sort was a king." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "And how?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our me, and I could not think that his explanation of the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but who was a member of your goose club." seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could was feeling which was the fattest.' "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "I saw her in conversation with her maid." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my definite end. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Entirely." in a friendly supper." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "And the cigar-holder?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed papers must be those that are destroyed.' Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed astonishment. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of disappearance of the bride.'" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the the stones. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when business at Coburg Square is serious." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must young Openshaw's." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that IS "I know where it is." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility gigantic client. I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic should be taken.' This is what he says: "My private note-paper." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Has he come with you to-night?" that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "Texas, I think." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I was already answered. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no where Mr. Fordham shows you.' foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "My Mary? Impossible!" saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." a monotonous occupation." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "In heaven's name, what for?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, which it had come upon my father." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle foot. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Yes." certainly do as you advise." problems help me to do so." feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'Ample.' week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to standing smiling on the door-step. nice household for a young lady." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "What shall I do?" assist you in forming an opinion." "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced "My photograph." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the relation between them, and what the object of his repeated troubles have been weighing upon his mind. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'Oh, no.' your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall