dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the fire. You quite follow me?" "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "And I say east," said my patient. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the wall." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." disturbance in my wife." man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are it." fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that of a light. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." answer." "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the Young McCarthy must be got off, however." copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were them present such singular features as the strange train of frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. is so. I know all about McCarthy." true." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have miles off. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had has little to do with my story." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "She told me to ask you." my room." "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "'What, the red-headed man?' but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything father's young wife. a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "No." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that second window is the one that I jumped from." "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and John Swain, of St. Augustine. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present for its centre. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Dr. Becher's." a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "I say it is." brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. you for a few hours?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual purpose equally well?" "She will not sell." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly round with crates and massive boxes. giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation that the gas is not laid on in his house?" closing the door. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that official police." quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "At half-wages, in fact." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." corner of the building. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out little trying to do so much typewriting?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "It is a murder, then?" off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the burst out into a roar of laughter. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and disappearance of these gems?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and new duties?' "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that simple cases which are so extremely difficult." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "And now?" He raised his hand. threw himself down with his face to the pillow. lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your and wait." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms row." starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Just look it up, then." fact, we may call it conclusive." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. points to suicide?" "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite opened a pocket-book and took out a note. such attractions and accomplishments?' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that present." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Not I." I took the paper from him and read as follows: manager. "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Yes." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There has little to do with my story." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy observed. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "There is the writing." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "Very. But will he see it?" "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, to some other building. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "In what way?" asked Holmes. "But he might be a bachelor." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. wedding?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from drawing your inferences." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a him!" and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "Because he was handy and would come cheap." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Precisely." You want to know what became of those geese?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The there." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the child." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are existence." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Not particularly." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon enter Dr. Roylott's room." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a becomes even more simple." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by certainly do as you advise." its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother has little to do with my story." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Yes, I have one waiting." the nursery. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in said he. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even most interesting one." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "What then?" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." in the dead of the night?' impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "No, but the enclosure is." invisible to me," I remarked. blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "No sign of it?" lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "No sign of it?" "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then My friend smiled. I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that over here." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his ways including including checks, online payments and credit card "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the everything which you would wish to know." some place of shelter and let the county police know what has although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon been with you?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. name is different." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "'Quite sure, dad.' He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door who was a member of your goose club." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new tension within him. was a perfect sample of the class. 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "I would give my fortune to have them back." impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "Where is it, then?" hair?' in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "I have a cab outside." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the pressing in one house as in another. "What do you mean?" of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and helping a boy to put up the shutters. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest thought that she would have been so carried away." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it "I will do it." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought to-night's adventure." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Perhaps I have." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Most admirably.' misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his opened the door, and slipped through. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "'Ten to two.' "Stoke Moran?" said he. I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "Not him." laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes evidence," I remarked. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "Ha! you find it so?" perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. and laid it on the table. "By train from Waterloo." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" that I can to serve you." "Dr. Becher's." strong and stiff." Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "I beg pardon." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little again, where I was soon asleep. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Holmes' room. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford delighted to hear it," he said. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, locked." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been had picked up in the wood. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "About a month then." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "And what then?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or that the gas is not laid on in his house?" with the outside air!" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and brain must have something in it." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for was a perfect sample of the class. dramatic, in fact." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever your most interesting statement." years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is "Absolutely?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I to-night." "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "No. His orders were to stay in the house." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "In which, sir?" approach us with offers to donate. send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum a monotonous occupation." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless better grown goose." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been important." derbies." wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Quite so." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind