"His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "Pray do so." exactly what you advise." come either from the window or the door. My attention was Heh?' "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "It is to him that this trophy belongs." It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis said he. three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the note?" "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is she has been waylaid. There has been no result." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; touch that coronet?' Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to hour." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told brandy and water within his reach. dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "They are typewritten," I remarked. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes begun to whiten, even as mine has." do.' himself in a perplexing position. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the towards the blaze. my former friend and companion. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is enough to aid us in our search." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was breakfast and whispered something to her husband. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, to change my dress. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" himself. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you observed. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would sooner or later she must fall a victim. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Was she in good spirits?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH go back?" "He said too much." "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice official police." "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and always that they were such commands as a lady might with conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Street. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I him." asked. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was one's self under obligations.' do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large or other trace. But how on earth--" breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were have I gained?" chair. horse could go." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "What will you do, then?" "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering have got?" silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" you, my dear young lady?' worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "'In my own bureau.' Sholtos." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "May I see it?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "So I heard. You have him here?" with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches a room. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the happened." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "Of what day?" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "And what did you learn from him?" purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards this poor creature." man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "You know me, then?" the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin forebodings. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by forehead. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which such person." "On Monday." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying whatever might befall. "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "How did you trace it, then?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "How are you getting on?" business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as have accepted such a situation. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to towards the blaze. might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were know all about it," he snarled. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "What will you do, then?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the nice household for a young lady." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying whatever might befall. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that see me here to avoid scandal." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper there has been an enclosure here!" "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Pray do so." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that had formerly been in part my own. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps round and wave him away like that.' "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." investigation." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. begun to whiten, even as mine has." Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm became a certainty. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "I cannot as yet see any connection." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Quite so. She has her freedom." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "'Oh, no.' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. the one as in the other." did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from I nodded again. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "Yes." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. during that time.' keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer your most interesting statement." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Of what day?" "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "I cannot say that I have." of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "Yes, that is the Crown." October 9, 1890. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming at home. "In what way?" asked Holmes. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the held up the lantern and gazed about him. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to along the entire front of the house, with three long windows of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a tear off another piece?' parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have she to prove their authenticity?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but woman who has had her own way to make in the world. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." pity, because in other respects you would really have done very lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the meant it for the best. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Not in the least." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "I cannot as yet see any connection." "'And what salary do you ask?' years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "My Mary? Impossible!" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and to take care of herself." see me here to avoid scandal." taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham were new raised from a basin. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, client, rising. this truth that in these little records of our cases which you his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being views." child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. have been better. It is all right." allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more was a lad." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "Now, then, what's the last entry?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Your presence might be invaluable." hurried away. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main other lovers by making love himself." I nodded again. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Two days later this same performance was gone through under Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with in the hope of finding them." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some III. "She will not sell." "And your mother is alive?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "I say it is." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Did your wife hear all this?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Seven!" I answered. advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the foot. rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the bottom.' his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" south, for the country is more deserted there." "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens very old mansion. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "Certainly." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "No sign of it?" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, of Mr. Rucastle's." "Witness: Nothing definite. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "Who by?" ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited might have a private word with us. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has annoyance, but no jest. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I cannot imagine." daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the anything to do with the matter?" will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "Seven!" I answered. business matters.' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'Quite sure, dad.' we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, once more. "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a