I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his key of the affair now." the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to situation." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "None." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he hurried by. "'Where to?' friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am one of the states of the Union." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." shaken than I had ever seen him. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A figure." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I test if we have an answer to our advertisement." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well since then to throw any light upon what became of him." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Well." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have room had already been engaged for us. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, some water from a caraffe. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "An enemy?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "She showed me, as I told you she would." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do photograph?" fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Nothing." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until as noiselessly as she had come. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of what these perils are?" "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." go--none." "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "To an English lawyer named Norton." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "But how will you look?" town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and client, rising. was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Have you good authority for what you say?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every business came to an end." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with empty. your Highness to the police-station?" providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "On your arm?" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "No more words. Get out!" conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." there." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in said he. "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "I would pay ten." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire ceremony." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a question. every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "At half-wages, in fact." "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "And leave your case unfinished?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the papers must be those that are destroyed.' "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late himself. "'Is purely nominal.' with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch "'About the same.' possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "I am following you closely," I answered. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Precisely so. But how--" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Did he not advertise?" stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "What?" investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a business matters.' client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Was he the only applicant?" you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than for the market.' hands. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "Certainly." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "My own seal." "Yes, all." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before ran thus: to Leatherhead. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door triumphant cloud from his cigarette. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "What will you do, then?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "'You cannot say what it was?' "Never." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, friend's singular character. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. will not take me long to tell. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I guessed as much." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. case before our client came into the room." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few fact, we may call it conclusive." read it out to me." roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "Of what?" burst out into a roar of laughter. "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the distinguish the words: me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "At what time?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few about here speaks of his kindness to him." skylight. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do paper in the air. "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not in his power. of a light. "And sit in the dark?" the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were "I was certainly surprised to find you there." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Very good.' collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an James Windibank. Voilà tout!" Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "No. His orders were to stay in the house." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "On your arm?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't call you and give you the chance." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "He slept on the premises." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Who was the criminal, then?" a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which During two years I have had three consultations and one small grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the running down." may have an influence upon European history." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of dates and names. the coronet at all injured?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither few hundred pounds.' they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Cross for the Continent." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something an introduction to him?" thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing I nodded again. "Then you may entirely rely on me." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press together. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Oh, the cause is excellent!" his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune happened." "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "'I have already given you my word.' "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your I have it here in my museum." "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "None." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with go--none." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make me have 200 pounds?' Holmes' room. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "Very truly yours, in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no to that open window." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Thank you. Pray proceed." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** children over to America with him, so that I found myself without you." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "And why?" States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a call the police, let the police find what they can.' Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has right! Sit down and let us talk it over." a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I seem to you to be relevant or not." certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the death." that I am arrested." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." to me. interested in these little problems, and since you are good admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in way in." colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to was already answered. aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. lectures into a series of tales." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." union?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and was not a bird to be seen there. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is bachelor.' against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped generous with you in money matters.' Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts do.' lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "What is it?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Certainly." young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the with some details as to your case." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these II. paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly third from London." can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of and laid it on the table. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him sooner or later she must fall a victim. now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' James Windibank. Voilà tout!" turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A shaken than I had ever seen him. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all business matters.' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as heavily into it. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Nothing?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have Does that suggest anything?" photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too back into the street. knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to