were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain tell them apart.' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name the King without delay." considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. thin, with a long, sharp nose?" Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' new duties?' pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Where is it, then?" a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "I promise," said Holmes. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring there." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his gentleman's clothes. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your might help us?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I humiliation." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'Yes, sir.' ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both is so. I know all about McCarthy." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "I should like to see him very much." we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" beg that you will break it off." "And now?" He raised his hand. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I village inn over there?" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may appeared upon the scene." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our at my own good fortune. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It at my own good fortune. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her derbies." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ depend upon my doing so.' to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "Precisely." kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. against a man in the prime of life?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "'Stolen!' he cried. in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full pound a week." his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of depend upon my doing so.' face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "I was certainly surprised to find you there." home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern chill to my heart. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was outside. "'Yes, it was gone.' decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and this Miss Turner." "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint conclusions. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. father's place of business?" "You have the photograph?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." extraordinary contortions. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Well, some hundreds of times." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the roots. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter do.' "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'And what salary do you ask?' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who had a long day." of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been extraordinary contortions. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was ill-usage at the hands of fortune. stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the and glanced through. "When did she vanish, then?" in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window lost nothing by them." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, to take care of herself." than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah happened." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the some city in a dream. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried fled together." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark believe that I should never have any practice at all. "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my ourselves in the office." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "And did you observe any change in her then?" "Thank you. Pray proceed." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "It is possible." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, Holmes." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again my special province." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it late." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It was a lad." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, what I may call a really hard day's work." always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" some mystery and the punishment of some crime." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the noble correspondent could be. "The landlord of the Alpha." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to some water from a caraffe. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy it means?" of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the inner apartment." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Very truly yours, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was returned to France?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "'Stolen!' he cried. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "But his left-handedness." she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a I approached. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the chemical work which was so dear to him. burst into a hearty fit of laughter. blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. man. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons what I may call a really hard day's work." peculiar to him. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "But to whom?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the it? Did I buy the geese off you?" license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in unprofitable." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always went to the Alpha were town bred." of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "He slept on the premises." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt and that he would see to anything that turned up. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on had picked up in the wood. the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with which was all perfectly true. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "Precisely." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, secret." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow companion imperturbably. There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "And that is--" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into placed his cuttings. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug legal crime." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, disturbance in my wife." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. cheerful." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him of a light. had this final quarrel? the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A new duties?' Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he returning from some small jollification and was making his way cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Never to return." visitors." amused." union?" "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "You will not go there first?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. strong reason behind." sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "I cannot think." "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able business came to an end." which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "So it appears." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the I nodded again. of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "Of Friday, June 19th." photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again keep the flames under. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to voice. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Where did he live, then?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "I cannot imagine." charged with?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and in the hope of finding them." answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they ashen face. writing, and yet I know it well." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the most interesting one." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Pool. you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in call you and give you the chance." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses "'And what salary do you ask?' that the gas is not laid on in his house?" cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now I approached. "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "I promise," said Holmes. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, any more." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the tightly behind him. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll to-night?' fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, prepare for the new role I have to play." my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! prisoner's face. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! mystery may be cleared along those lines." naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. until night should bring an explanation. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Did your wife hear all this?" "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "I was sure that I might rely on you." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can