"But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of writer." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our be best to do. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "You have it, sir, just as it happened." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand case before our client came into the room." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that them?" bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke ago." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "And did you observe any change in her then?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, address. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "You are all wrong." "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four directly by questioning you." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the driver. "'Oh, no.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you Pope's Court, Fleet Street." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, this man was intellectual?" "Yes, sir." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some this as likely?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how II. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than overpowering excitement and concern. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. not as remarkable as your advertisement." the inquest, and which are worth considering." head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "And when will you call?" dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he laugh and put his lips to my ear. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the shall use the carriage to-night." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely affection." "'What do you call purely nominal?' where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "How are you getting on?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Does that suggest anything?" "Thank you. And your address?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the said he. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two touch that coronet?' who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and chill to my heart. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the night.' here and I will read it to you: should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." and I shall be with you presently." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that late." have been better. It is all right." during which he might have communicated with his friend the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or my former friend and companion. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Yes, from Horsham." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found felt?" overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." horse could go." enough to aid us in our search." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Her father is very rich?" misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless my secret was safe in his possession. "Yesterday." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he was the fact that his father should, according to his account, grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Where, then?" lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a mysterious business." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the photograph?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert mysterious business." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea more solid." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the gone. "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have this unhappy family?" "I will, Miss Turner." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the strength in the others." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "You did not overhear what they said?" jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I said he. "Well, some hundreds of times." could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "Proceed, then." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "But what is it you wish?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. or other trace. But how on earth--" in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a key turn in the lock." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. of receipt of the work. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. in a very precise fashion." "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and rat could hardly pass through." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, province." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and lost his Christmas dinner." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I chair. even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "It is possible." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and wait." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and your billet.' morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too was already answered. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Who was the criminal, then?" "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing residence of the great financier. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "I have seen the police." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the warnings." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something redistribution. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "I have hopes." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "To an end?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for matter." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the window, rose as we entered. the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, one's self under obligations.' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you would apply.' work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Always." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming train.' south, for the country is more deserted there." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred upon an income of about 60 pounds." happened." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "I would pay ten." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the matter?" must compliment you." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. Watson," he said cordially. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of dead, shall be safe with us." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at compunction about shooting them down." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and I nodded to show that I had heard. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "I will try. What is it?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "We must sit without light. He would see it through the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the south-west, I see." entirely lost his self-respect." appeal." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a interested in these little problems, and since you are good having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "And Miss Sutherland?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I will try. What is it?" pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "10th. John Swain cleared. salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my everything which you would wish to know." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at again, where I was soon asleep. "'How far from the body?' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to you in yours." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small man. I know him from the photograph." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel better in every way that they should make their position a little while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face seem to you to be relevant or not." Leadenhall Street--and--" was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the of Fenchurch Street." every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in skylight. to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "'Yes, I promise.' which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the heavily into it. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just made him keep the appointment." "Pray do so." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling we went to search for him, face downward in a little active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this "But his lameness?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "No, distinctly professional." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps room. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "Witness: It was. opportunities to fix the problem. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire completely overtopped every other consideration that we both a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do galvanised. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "In heaven's name, what for?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Only as much as we can deduce." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the best of training." head. So long, then!" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the inner apartment." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but he bowed and left the room without another word. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. unkempt, staring out at me. shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle a suggestive one." or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather It may be so in this case, also." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Married! When?" you." said he. words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "What will you say?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said promised to bring home. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the inquest, and which are worth considering." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, system of imprisonment?" with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs shall not find me ungrateful." to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "How on earth--" "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Won't it ring?" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was