"But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If served to weaken the effect. familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be in this note: ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." asked with his eyes open. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your late!' should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" writer." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square cost them two and thirty pounds." the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to should be so warm over such a trifle." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the his face which made him a very different person to the round, business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. details." him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar awkward doing business with an alias." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it the Friday. Was it to be in church?" these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. the very morning of the wedding." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady side. that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "But you can know nothing of this?" the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very that you saw all that I did." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "None. Neville wrote those words." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is questionable one." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I The police have openly confessed that they can at present make ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Sholtos." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "What of the rat, then?" "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "Absolutely?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Munro.' terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one you give your casting vote to?" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" himself. endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, been deceived." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at the Red-headed League." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot "'A dozen yards or so.' much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! the house with me." successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable away in different directions, and I went off to make my own go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the salesman. "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "And from a noble client?" and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with cost them two and thirty pounds." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it the tragedy. world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking "Not him." southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. grasp, he hurried from the room. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you it. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "It is half-past ten now." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, memory. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "Do you know him?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "You have it, sir, just as it happened." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should "Your French gold?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him way: words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you whatever might befall. that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My pierced for earrings?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Thank you. Pray proceed." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything distinguish the words: "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both your bag." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the and no precautions can guard against." "It is possible." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of bill, which interests me deeply." frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent 11:15.' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before was feeling which was the fattest.' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he legal crime." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most definite end. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp in my life." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but of Mr. Rucastle's." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't his huge brown hands. demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us foot. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Do you go out much in society?" authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "'I have heard so.' the Friday. Was it to be in church?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Have you it here?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining me, and I could not think that his explanation of the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would again before evening." "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "One?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may of." "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will was a lad." "Where is it, then?" "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it questioning and rather startled gaze. feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it case before our client came into the room." analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "You heard nothing yourself last night?" Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the coronet at all injured?" you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at think that any burglar could have done. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Indeed! Whose, then?" make me his representative both with the servants and with the "And what did you learn from him?" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what with her." clang of the bell. fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Always." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" know what is wrong with it.' "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the night.' companion imperturbably. "Nothing?" didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "It surprised me." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have keep the flames under. "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "You think that he is dead?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "You horrify me." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be key of the affair now." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between be.' of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Where, then, is my wife?" "What will you say?" behind me. manager. "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." hour?' the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "You think that he is dead?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his disappearance of the bride.'" remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of giving me time to thank him. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "No, I think that I'll take it." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "When did she vanish, then?" impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I investigation." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has in him." placed his cuttings. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, examine." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are dead, shall be safe with us." his eyes and forehead. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth helping a boy to put up the shutters. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "'I shall certainly be there.' here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a think that he is innocent?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "I think it very unlikely." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "And now?" I asked. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should prepare for the new role I have to play." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "And what did you see?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. ready to-morrow?' despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. that he will be back before evening." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that and shall probably return to London by the evening train." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said straightened it out again. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an views." a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We already referred to. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. was it brought him the coronet? the room while you explain this matter?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting