very morning of my second wedding." concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "It surprised me." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "She walked into the breakfast-room." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin shall not find me ungrateful." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it your most interesting statement." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "And from a noble client?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "If I can be of use." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view things are very often connected not with the larger but with the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the questioning and rather startled gaze. "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "It is true that I have been generally successful." beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "She will not sell." indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Do you know him?" "And I to find an enemy." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been hopeless attempt at recovering them." redistribution. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this allusion to a rat. a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "10th. John Swain cleared. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem back alive. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the neither fascinating nor artistic." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully you, my dear young lady?' was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of know all about it," he snarled. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "I am in hopes that she does." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a opened the door, and slipped through. flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "What have you done?" asked Holmes. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average asked with his eyes open. full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of had died away into the silence from which it rose. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who IS "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "Not in the least." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor already been minutely examined." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his it." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'I shall certainly be there.' twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Not him." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'A dozen yards or so.' - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "And Irene Adler?" Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and over his head with a sweet womanly caress. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to will find little credit to be gained out of this case." into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." nothing with him." his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and bare slabs of marble. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There been with you?" "A confidential servant?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End until night should bring an explanation. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of right! Sit down and let us talk it over." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the bottom.' chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed eavesdroppers?' 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Come in!" said Holmes. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your should be taken.' quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger meanly of me." end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." with the outside air!" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate tassel actually lying upon the pillow. on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it tell them apart.' bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads question you as to those details which seem to me to be most cigars in their mouths. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make which was all perfectly true. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. were new raised from a basin. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was opportunities to fix the problem. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" floor. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I your sleep?' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He said I. tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "Where, then?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the deduce something from that?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Can I be of assistance?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather sufficient punishment." "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "It was." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been fishes. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I never came back." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire useful material for showing traces. The double line a little He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "It is very clear." instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported you found me to-night--and running through the front room she the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry behind me. I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional The telegram which we eventually received came late one night I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe she slowly sank and died without having recovered her Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. heavily into it. list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just little adventures." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "Then what has happened to him?" closing the door. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined point in the dark hollow of his hand. bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "But I have heard all that you have heard." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned assist you in forming an opinion." "None." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was along the entire front of the house, with three long windows were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come was a perfect sample of the class. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "And when will you call?" ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." new duties?' Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "You think so, too?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of http://www.gutenberg.net his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat train.' got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "Was there a secret marriage?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is wanted for ourselves." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of to change my dress. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a business matters.' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "And you don't know his address?" "Yes, certainly." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Yes." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried read it out to me." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of likely to be some crony of the landlady's." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of footfalls from the street. "That is unusual in a young girl." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I do.' you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "'I have heard so.' naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through more terrible than the truth. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It strong and stiff." signal between you and your father? of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might we went to search for him, face downward in a little for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. unclasping of his long thin hands. my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "Where, indeed?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'Where to?' had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "It missed him, then?" method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he figure." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came likely to be some crony of the landlady's." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa helping a boy to put up the shutters. experiences." outside." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "What do you mean?" thought that she would have been so carried away." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation in darkness. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. himself. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." tapping his fingers upon the table. "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." is a common subject for conversation. trifles." mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "That you are never beaten." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. and I shall be with you presently." away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." tapping his fingers upon the table. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord it." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone help us in this matter." delirious. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a with the outside air!" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "And Miss Sutherland?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether think that any burglar could have done. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so searched, without anything being found which could incriminate have established a very serious case against the son of the her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would nothing of it?" his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "I will try. What is it?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose you." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in "'About the same.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently place no limit on the sum I may draw." We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three at once, for I have only half an hour." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend you give your casting vote to?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. matter over." exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her weary and pale-looking. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand and wait." "Won't it ring?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution village inn over there?" "Yes." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a cigars in their mouths. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which II. "Where did you address your letters, then?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing hereditary King of Bohemia." asked. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You