to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "I am in hopes that she does." horse could go." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "You think that he is dead?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful and looked back. have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "What are they?" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "But we can't all be." her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "We were both in the photograph." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord garden below. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and good for you to do.' something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "Then the page we have seen--" between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "I was afraid that you were engaged." moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from fishes. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes any little problem which you may submit to me." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." had a long day." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is details should find their way into the papers. Inspector would apply.' There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. I am not easy in my mind about them." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black address. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, were new raised from a basin. We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was Foundation he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. back into the street. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "What will you do, then?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "How did he come?" "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall that I am arrested." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes notes," he said. silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. danger is over." with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." impression behind it as though a window had gently closed whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "What is it?" "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding throat." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a least a fellow-countryman. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "My dear Holmes!" my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "It's nothing of the kind." promised to bring home. was a loud and authoritative tap. "Yes, from Horsham." existence." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than business in the City. She little knew what. "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a with you alone." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always important." pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob the ceiling. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she me upon any point which I do not make clear." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was on in his house." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat than to us. again on its way. very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "And help." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge what these perils are?" but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, was keenly on my guard against him. she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," you." manager. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "What have you to say now?" III. "And your father? Did you tell him?" and it need not interfere very much with one's other wedding?" Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Then I shall certainly come." bell. Holmes whistled. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and purpose of examination. the station." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened throat." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that that I may have something better before very many minutes are Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the that?' years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously until night should bring an explanation. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Nothing." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a more terrible than the truth. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Stolen, then." mysterious business." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "But you can know nothing of this?" gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Then the page we have seen--" you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into that threaten you." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I you." the coronet in his hand?" should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the burst out into a roar of laughter. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. my friend's incisive reasoning. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right better in every way that they should make their position a little was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your kindly on the shoulder. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Did he not advertise?" look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the your co-operation." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Ah!" future lives." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Yes, it would be as well." paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads already referred to. envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the triumphant cloud from his cigarette. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when is entirely a question of barometric pressure." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "What! You do not mean bodies?" Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to assist you in forming an opinion." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my legal crime." her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his went to the Alpha were town bred." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your Pope's Court, Fleet Street." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I see no marks." Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "And what did you see?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet 1.E.9. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are purpose equally well?" returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "That is easily got." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He business." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of danger is over." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "There is the writing." your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not weapon." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of upon the shelf for the interim." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "But who is he?" words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "Eh? What was that?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you lumber-room." Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked legal crime." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a be best to do. the bottom.' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are that terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" advice." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And more terrible than the truth. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure it with his own hands." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "But we can't all be." friends, not even his own brother. "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her carried out of court." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch "My Mary? Impossible!" "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have been better. It is all right." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly useful material for showing traces. The double line a little met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you wife's character?" once more. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "Pray do so." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the to tell." "He is dead," cried several voices. "But how will you look?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, entirely lost his self-respect." the night.' "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for away to you." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while over with notes and figures. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom correct than the official force." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to row." I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the garden below. "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this morning." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. back to my heart. "And I." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That spark where all is dark to me." body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "It's nothing of the kind." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "Then, as to money?" why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so think that any burglar could have done. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "And I to find an enemy." "It looks newer than the other things?"