to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first written, and locked the door of the office after me. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings do.' settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of the window, rose as we entered. I held the little printed slip to the light. looking up at the numbers of the houses." telegram would bring me down to your help." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "And is that all?" "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the that I can to serve you." to talk it over. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper happened." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots occurred." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you has little to do with my story." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it some place of shelter and let the county police know what has his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce him to be an active member of the medical profession." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "And what then?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "It is a murder, then?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the general public were present, then?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "If so, much may have happened between." year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "So I have heard." conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "Precisely so. But how--" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "I would give my fortune to have them back." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea eat it." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. he died? effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the national property. I was determined that the law should have its About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an respectable self." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "But what is it you wish?" "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a girl said." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." husband's writing, madam." business came to an end." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "It is to him that this trophy belongs." "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out hands. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an front of me. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "You are hungry," I remarked. even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "And when will you call?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "He is still with you, I presume?" the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been brandy and water within his reach. in one or two places in England?' "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "A thing like a cleaver," said he. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a there!' puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Never." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at instincts rose up against that laugh. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'Ten to two.' narrative." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving garden below. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are the King without delay." For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "Your sister is dead, then?" expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were suggested at once that there must be a communication between the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Who was the criminal, then?" 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a ran thus: been with you?" "Yes, they were peculiar boots." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "What can it mean?" I gasped. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very several quiet little villages up there." straightened it out again. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. papers must be those that are destroyed.' the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in wife's character?" How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" seen the man in the road." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had ago." that I am arrested." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what very peculiar words of the dying woman?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had confronted him. London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at already been minutely examined." the running down." "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me next day. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to I nodded to show that I had heard. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which union?" it." "It is very clear." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, you do it in twenty minutes!' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself whether it answered to the description of any of their gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? this poor creature." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." secret." "Pray do so." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "You don't mind breaking the law?" British peeress.'" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' are windows in it, of course?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his when your master had gone out." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the corner of the building. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "You have but to name it." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the was a lad." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do with you?" "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "What will you say?" come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." as he remarks, very much against the son." "They are typewritten," I remarked. wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to evidence," I remarked. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some the stable lane now." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, infinite languor in his face. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, corner of the building. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of shadow pass over his face as I spoke. congratulate you again." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Absolutely?" tension within him. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I do." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with in him." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew vault. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his dates and names. instincts rose up against that laugh. Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell were new raised from a basin. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to that you wished to speak to me?' Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. used to be." "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" handed it to him. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever him nearly every evening." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Ten will be early enough." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "'Ample.' give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from are, and they are waiting for us." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "I think that it is very probable." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common excitement. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "My Mary? Impossible!" that I can to serve you." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was you, my dear young lady?' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the drove away. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a our word." so far?" turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, that threaten you." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. of the one which your family is now devouring." "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "No, finished." works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, never came back." were wasted." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "You are all wrong." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder was it brought him the coronet? long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope morning." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "No bad?" insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and indeed happy." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; someone who had been in Australia." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." your equipment. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I will not take me long to tell. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination legal crime." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the official police." "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have carpenter." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some think you a quite exceptional woman." should be so warm over such a trifle." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Really! You surprise me." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress for its centre. walking." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you ashen face. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself in this way: Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain should be so warm over such a trifle." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one and inquire as to the address." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Because he was handy and would come cheap." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." married her." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "Precisely." upon the sideboard." "But to whom?" Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez problems help me to do so." "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave some city in a dream. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty ceremony." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "Yes." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was south, for the country is more deserted there." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really the stable lane now." have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "If so, much may have happened between." article?" The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as