one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. too. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. straighten it?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "My dear Holmes!" Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Well, some hundreds of times." extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. interest. They are important, you understand, without being is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. matter over." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in shaken than I had ever seen him. inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to my special province." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you fuss that is made over them." He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the least a most suspicious remark." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "'A dozen yards or so.' and it need not interfere very much with one's other inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I tension within him. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, very morning of my second wedding." again before evening." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford held up the lantern and gazed about him. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at behind me. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, fire. You quite follow me?" conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to His name is Francis Prosper." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. knowledge of the world." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "What of the rat, then?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out some terrible trap for her." which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the than was visible to me." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." future lives." "Then you may entirely rely on me." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in noble correspondent could be. "Did he not advertise?" for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang bell. Holmes whistled. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper even of instruction." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for lids now and glanced across at his visitor. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, notes," he said. his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united you." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave an introduction to him?" have accepted such a situation. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." been anything against him. He had for years been known as a The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO one which it was hard to resist. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "In what way?" asked Holmes. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Sutherland. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a client, rising. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon fatally injured? "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the better grown goose." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If had no one to advise her at such a crisis." could gather together that I was able to avert another public deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel "And how did you verify them?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "Yes, I have one waiting." I nodded to show that I had heard. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Your French gold?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon charged with?" went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been "And your father? Did you tell him?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Why, it's a dummy," said he. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is voice. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. room. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "I was mad--insane." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the within hail.' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' 'please.'" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' matters immensely." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last bare slabs of marble. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten second window is the one that I jumped from." prepare for the new role I have to play." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out the window, rose as we entered. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "My dear Holmes!" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Did he not advertise?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I depend upon your compliance." annoyance, but no jest. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called or in danger--" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "I am all attention, madam." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "That also I could fathom." "You forget that I know nothing about it." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to he bowed and left the room without another word. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which always that they were such commands as a lady might with Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "I promise," said Holmes. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the "No." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how "That is possible." answered with a sidelong glance. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the someone who had been in Australia." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel hour." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "No, I had a dozen." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Yes, but only for you and me." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, arrested. You then--" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the there in twenty minutes." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was wedding?" if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than this truth that in these little records of our cases which you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very himself in a perplexing position. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is weary and pale-looking. and looked back. quickly through a disagreeable task. himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his shadow pass over his face as I spoke. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce The telegram which we eventually received came late one night laugh and put his lips to my ear. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" lost nothing by them." locked." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly past. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way he died? "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have be. a room. Miss Holder?" other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Yes, but only for you and me." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "Yes." play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert good-night and bustled off upon her way. upon the white wrist. France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." individual and becomes the badge of a society." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." the bottom.' her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "You did not overhear what they said?" its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "But who is he?" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much evidence," I remarked. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." easy-going way." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "The King of Scandinavia." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at south, for the country is more deserted there." "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that call the police, let the police find what they can.' shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Here?" could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and "'Stolen!' he cried. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as brought there to personate someone, and the real person is her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'You doubt its value?' he asked. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my future lives." by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "I cannot tell." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never third from London." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up "I never have." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat young Openshaw's." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich villagers almost as much as their master. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." rooms." even of instruction." brain must have something in it." been able to understand it, in a very few words. was feeling which was the fattest.' out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered secret." pierced for earrings?" upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Literary Archive Foundation fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "It is his hat." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "But his left-handedness." that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable in this note: "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as for the market.' "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Where did he live, then?" "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an all?" overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Just look it up, then." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "And it is--"