horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: was lame." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else corner of the building. southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my John Swain, of St. Augustine. Munro.' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the words came to my lips. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I was mad--insane." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in had picked up in the wood. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Eyford." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if over with notes and figures. "Nothing." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" pictures, libraries, or plate. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "'Yes, I promise.' he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "10th. John Swain cleared. "Eh? What was that?" "I will get her to show me." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had to arrive at through this?" I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." too. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that I shall communicate with you." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "And Irene Adler?" vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "I don't say that. Perhaps." thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended second window is the one that I jumped from." unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, be sorry for having acted so harshly." International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "Then I am your man." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they villagers almost as much as their master. "And I." "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and had died away into the silence from which it rose. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been persecution?" "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue wedding?" that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which infinite languor in his face. my special province." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the nursery. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. constraint." brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "Very much so." emerged. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one meanly of me." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "I cannot tell." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow sneer upon his pale face. "'Oh, no.' "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." hair?' learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler other, as fresh and trim as possible. even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "And how in the world did you find them?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a six. Come in!" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right guilty one." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, morning." existence." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable with you alone." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." you." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded wedding?" Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention will he say when he returns?" foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "Here?" rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "I am following you closely," I answered. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "'As governess?' likely to be some crony of the landlady's." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "To ruin me." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. correct than the official force." written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you guilty parties." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as residence of the great financier. when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Perfectly so." steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his indeed happy." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of tear off another piece?' whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. said he. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Then how many are there?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was once more for Briony Lodge. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Then, as to money?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "And how?" with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such note?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "I will not look." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should was feeling which was the fattest.' of." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "My last client of the sort was a king." "On your arm?" too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "'I shall certainly be there.' agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few you, my dear young lady?' upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that already referred to. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own assist you in forming an opinion." giving me time to thank him. cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' my room." paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "What then?" betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and get her out of the way." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face garden below. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' overpowering excitement and concern. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had society." overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it there in twenty minutes." "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent before the coroner and the police-court." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor I took the paper from him and read as follows: vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the one as in the other." both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael attention." once more to my work. "I would pay ten." The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Nothing." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, ways of our fellow-men." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing were new raised from a basin. of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains main points of my analysis." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. events, Mr. Windibank!" the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and bore every mark of being an average commonplace British bears upon the case?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of brain must have something in it." uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "When did it break out?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Tired-looking or fresh?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of burst into a hearty fit of laughter. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." asked. hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Was the window open?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The said he. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was case-book, which he consulted. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, shoulder. demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on plantation.' "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "'In my own bureau.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "I will not look." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and think you a quite exceptional woman." of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a bill, which interests me deeply." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "What!" he roared. shoulder. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, page at http://pglaf.org other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet I held the little printed slip to the light. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. me. You must get home instantly and act." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his where Mr. Fordham shows you.' cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue you came in." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "Texas, I think." his knees, staring into the fire. smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Yes, certainly." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the later, upon the night of May 2nd." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, whatever might befall. out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she them?" my secret was safe in his possession. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal "My dear Holmes!" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the the devil!"