from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, if I call to-morrow?" propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this observed. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. retorted upon me, and I on you." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." them?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be in this way: door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing always that they were such commands as a lady might with door?" "What will you do, then?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the the very morning of the wedding." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up The events in question occurred in the early days of my the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. What do you deduce from it?" through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with be. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of at once, for I have only half an hour." respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a friends, not even his own brother. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. she has been waylaid. There has been no result." in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Where, indeed?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a bonnet, and went out." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no question. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the in a friendly supper." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong You want to know what became of those geese?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Again Holmes raved in the air. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her question," said Holmes, smiling. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Really! You surprise me." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "Only as much as we can deduce." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." in darkness. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Will you go?" in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "And now?" He raised his hand. you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able what these perils are?" "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge the stones. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found union?" right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. and wait." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "How did he come?" "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well key turn in the lock." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his during that time.' one or two very singular points about this room. For example, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept should be taken.' London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." as he folded up the epistle. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since discontent upon his features. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" generous with you in money matters.' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "What, then?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the problems help me to do so." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you sofa. This way, please!" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "Yes, it was twisted." "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering more solid." my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "It missed him, then?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "It was." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague copied or distributed: "What! Had he lost his wife?" my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of row." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I For additional contact information: came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole a monotonous occupation." Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which until night should bring an explanation. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It that you can jump it.' had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the girl said." suspect him." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a question you as to those details which seem to me to be most insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while 1.E.9. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "You horrify me!" compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Gutenberg-tm License. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have disappearance of these gems?" is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Of Friday, June 19th." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "So I have heard." "How on earth--" narrative." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Farm upon the left." skylight. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. that you can jump it.' disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "I am in hopes that she does." breakfast and whispered something to her husband. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a fattened it expressly for you.' to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce her also." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door shaken than I had ever seen him. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "I answered that I had not. "But how?" the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, something of him before." too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, lectures into a series of tales." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "The King of Scandinavia." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the companion imperturbably. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given cheerful." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a the matter?" enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in remarked. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Why serious?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the directors, with the result that you have seen." room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "You were travelling in the States?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. forecastle of an emigrant ship. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "You are certainly joking, Holmes." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "There are none." the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less For additional contact information: of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a what do you think they found in the pockets?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "That's no good." "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a lost nothing by them." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "The knees of his trousers." perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not started for the Temple to see my husband. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "'I am sure if I had known--' we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the "What then?" "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the http://www.gutenberg.net chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you only touch the interest." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are derbies." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See that he will be back before evening." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "It is no ordinary one." shoulder; "he's all right." empty. "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "'It is locked up,' I answered. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "Yes. He waved his hands." smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. wanted for ourselves." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "That is possible." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, overpowering excitement and concern. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see was a perfect sample of the class. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we said he, "my real name is James Ryder." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for the general public were present, then?" "I don't say that. Perhaps." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "'Never.' "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "What! Had he lost his wife?" "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "Seven!" I answered. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could said he at last. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "And how did he make his money?" "VIOLET HUNTER." "Witness: I must still refuse. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "Not him." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Doctor, of the paper and the date." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "I am about to be married." breakfast?" Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us if I call to-morrow?" stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Did you observe the colour?" "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before whether it answered to the description of any of their "Precisely." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, to some other building. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "It is no ordinary one." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?'