permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one whether it answered to the description of any of their other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Well, some hundreds of times." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "You know me, then?" the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he father's young wife. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "And the murderer?" "I will, Miss Turner." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our depend upon my doing so.' Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Nearly eleven." Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent imbecility!" he cried. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "'And what are they worth?' I asked. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford said he at last. prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "It came here." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. you understand?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "To ruin me." "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore trifles." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "When did she vanish, then?" Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been your only hope of safety." the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in felt the room to be a little close.' populous neighbourhood." The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." followed. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Her father is very rich?" be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Which are?" first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "But what is it you wish?" "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the best of training." here." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Perhaps I have." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine chance at all." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up that there was nothing in it, after all." "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have horse could go." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger this poor creature." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "9th. McCauley cleared. "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his conduct the inquiry." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face late." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Cross for the Continent." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the it with his own hands." "How often?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason front of me. cup of tea. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather maiden herself was most instructive." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my as this. Pray let me have the details." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wall." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "'Why that?' I asks. "Texas, I think." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" upon the shelf for the interim." of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank own family. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "Yes. He waved his hands." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is Henry Baker is a member." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double gigantic client. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder "That is unusual in a young girl." "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she or other trace. But how on earth--" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." only touch the interest." "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. situation." "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, there has been an enclosure here!" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign ready to-morrow?' must compliment you." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Imitated." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I States. corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "What will you say?" doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time some terrible trap for her." bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his present." Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "It is very kind of you." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have "Your French gold?" following enigmatical notices: herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "It is no ordinary one." hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I am to be neutral?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little cigars in their mouths. "It is true that I have been generally successful." I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and undoubtedly my uncle's." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "And from a noble client?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. October 9, 1890. father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from without success. At last the little money which I had saved began "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the that I am arrested." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager with you?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such sparkled upon his finger. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of strength." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no His smile broadened. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, and glanced through. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "But who is he?" very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I secret." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I invisible to me," I remarked. here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, my little problems." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw nights." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "And how in the world did you find them?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Well, it is a possible supposition." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste some place of shelter and let the county police know what has hurried by. therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I neither fascinating nor artistic." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Nothing." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes prove to be little relation between the different incidents of the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found train from Paddington which would bring you there at about doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we which should have the effect of calling the attention of the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at The King stared at him in amazement. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not I approached. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he Count Von Kramm." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Did you observe the colour?" The summons was a brief and urgent one. few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to and capable of preserving a secret.' offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are out of this horrible affair." as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "You have it, sir, just as it happened." again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "It is very clear." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his I was concerned in it." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Have you it here?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and is worth.' of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the mysterious end." the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction that threaten you." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" Clair, of Lee." been with you?" there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these brandy and water within his reach. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Nothing?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "Was the window open?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty for securing the situation." got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "It was." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me death." "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton one which it was hard to resist. held up the lantern and gazed about him. in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he Watson," he said cordially. always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Oh, yes, easily." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Dr. Becher's." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "In the cells."