"And why?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." friend's singular character. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." "He said that you could solve anything." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "No, I had a dozen." seven miles from Eyford Station.' valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in felt?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to which I could not give. He asked for Alice. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the could go. "One of his hands." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it with her." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the south-west, I see." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "And Miss Sutherland?" woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "I have come for advice." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "What then?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had detained." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at keep the flames under. Lee, in the county of Kent." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "May I see it?" of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let the King without delay." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the this unhappy family?" "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this detained." "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Yes." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was October 9, 1890. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "Then I do not see the point." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Not in the least." someone who had been in Australia." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" his eyes and forehead. out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she lamp in his hand. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to vault. "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his trifles." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "The rest you will leave in our hands." them?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "And who is her maid?" "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "'Which dealer's?' reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Nothing." floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of I was concerned in it." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "But what is it you wish?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the indeed which he could not unravel. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that guilty one." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Witness: It was. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a hard-headed British jury." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire morning." secret." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my papers diligently of late, have you not?" pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It opened the door, and slipped through. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as was a lad." "And leave your case unfinished?" "What! a murderous attack?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George sufficient punishment." "'Where could I find him?' Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "You have but to name it." despaired of." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. towards the blaze. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much was a perfect sample of the class. "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable be sorry for having acted so harshly." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "Nor running a chance of arrest?" sneer upon his pale face. horse could go." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of singular points about the case. What did the police think of the may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "Then he might have called to you?" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by to talk it over. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she "He is still with you, I presume?" he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other you for a few hours?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that DAMAGE. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of see me here to avoid scandal." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "The Cedars?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering help us in this matter." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "'Yes, it was gone.' reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really I am not easy in my mind about them." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into weapon." more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I cannot imagine." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk morning." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is shoulder; "he's all right." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "Witness: I must still refuse. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my persecution?" "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because look upon these things in a different way." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive down in his armchair and closing his eyes. had formerly been in part my own. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and always that they were such commands as a lady might with the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the some water from a caraffe. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four relief. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get to miss it." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the matter?" How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the already referred to. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the best detective that ever lived. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up and no precautions can guard against." destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." "You don't mind breaking the law?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of to-night?' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, October 9, 1890. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "On Monday." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been the address that was given us in the advertisement. believe that I should never have any practice at all. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "In the cells." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "No." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Yes." "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Very. But will he see it?" DISSOLVED. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "I don't believe it." behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a did not hear it also.' struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes perplexity from it to my illustrious client. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which and have this put in the evening papers." that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "My last client of the sort was a king." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had interests were the same as his." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Proceed, then." save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the our word." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'I am sure that I do not know.' front of the hall door has given its name to the place. girl said." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better chill to my heart. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "The landlord of the Alpha." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were that there was nothing in it, after all." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when during the last few years, and there are many noble families to side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the married her." "That is possible." "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to goes." "None." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and about. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it the Friday. Was it to be in church?" tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I see no marks." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." the night.' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards more solid." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, his grey eyes. Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and several quiet little villages up there." "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in you do it in twenty minutes!' of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my ago." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror both be extremely obliged.' "Yes." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "And who is her maid?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "But what is it you wish?" learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott vault. late!' bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make there!' relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly astonishment. Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." to you." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the strong reason behind." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Have you good authority for what you say?" "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, be sorry for having acted so harshly." clanging. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the woman who has had her own way to make in the world. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon she used." away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "I beg pardon." "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "I answered that I had not. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a shoulder; "he's all right." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "But who is he?" to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "What then?" "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "What have you to say now?" just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps,