"What office?" Edgeware Road. that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "The vanishing of the lady." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" my little problems." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was quickly through a disagreeable task. Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together newspaper selections." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, touch that coronet?' "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "I am armed." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at her also." who was a member of your goose club." wife's character?" simple cases which are so extremely difficult." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Well, some hundreds of times." furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very we went to search for him, face downward in a little "Ten will be early enough." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from upon the sideboard." of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "It is very clear." the date of his supposed suicide." along the entire front of the house, with three long windows were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. this as likely?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." shoulder; "he's all right." chance." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" your troubles." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their wedding?" "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a over here." "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to to his chemical studies. "No." "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Very. But will he see it?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down society." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The that, and I came down." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Ah, but I was recommended to you." whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had asked. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to used to be." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had easy-going way." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "It is solved." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no within hail.' Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "10th. John Swain cleared. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking public press." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Were they all fastened this morning?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem to change my dress. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to as the one I chose?' "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful be there in time for your coming." "Absolutely none." time." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just intimate personal affairs in this public manner." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary questioning and rather startled gaze. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if families. Now for the facts. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "But how will you look?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in burst out into a roar of laughter. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. "Ah!" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton some terrible trap for her." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just at a side door. his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "Not in a good cause." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing never came back." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Have you it here?" appeared upon the scene." "'As governess?' not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast and prosperity to your house. Good-night." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; do." To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "I see no marks." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond promised to bring home. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." me where it went to?" him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "What office?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this it. criminal. We have already had experience of such." guilty parties." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural to-night?' sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. gone. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds footfalls from the street. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the I shall communicate with you." the King without delay." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Street. "The knees of his trousers." "Yes." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet cause to be." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Won't it ring?" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "What office?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very over part of the map. "What do you read?" little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "What are they?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of must be when I saw the door open.' minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' geese which you supplied to the Alpha." meanly of me." "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "But who is he?" ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is which are rolled in Rotterdam." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "You were travelling in the States?" "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an corner of the building. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Yes, the wine-cellar." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "Yes." "Will you bet, then?" call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and 1.E.9. it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, see me here to avoid scandal." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a grasp, he hurried from the room. "I say it is." saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "What?" at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as made his money." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think flock.' very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two singular points about the case. What did the police think of the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a astonishment. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would which was all perfectly true. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a invisible to me," I remarked. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." wedding?" stalked out of the room. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down returning from some small jollification and was making his way two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "If I can be of use." against a man in the prime of life?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, you for a few hours?" "'And what salary do you ask?' "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I never have." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to own family. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works pity, because in other respects you would really have done very thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of the tragedy. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a past. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his may have an influence upon European history." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford arrested. You then--" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "'Certainly not. But why?' "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "By no means." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "I will not look." "And on what day did he meet his death?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low note?" throat." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, read it out to me." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you place, I think that there is good ground to think that the looking up at the numbers of the houses." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the bearing upon the case." abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "An accident, I presume?" contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went "What office?" "Ah!" Pool. "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "He disappeared so suddenly." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to invisible to me," I remarked. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was entirely lost his self-respect." matter over." gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "When did she vanish, then?" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "What then?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock I was concerned in it." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late photograph a cabinet?" usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from strength." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of green of the new foliage. her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did room. that, and I came down." of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my I was concerned in it." excitement. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Entirely." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I important." might have a private word with us. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was hands. of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "You did not overhear what they said?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day and a shock of very red hair. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "The vanishing of the lady." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the all?" perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the had a long day." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain