"Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, least a fellow-countryman. "We have tried and failed." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Her father is very rich?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "But how did you gain them?" is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "I never have." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered second." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. him." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "You don't mind breaking the law?" As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which my little problems." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to take care of herself." "To ruin me." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, foot. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in which should have the effect of calling the attention of the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good all?" doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Breckinridge is his name." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said weapon." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than three of the beryls in it, was missing. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel touch that coronet?' the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "Won't it ring?" "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five have I gained?" you." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the date of his supposed suicide." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, discontent upon his features. Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow sofa. This way, please!" Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I new acquaintance to Baker Street. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my noise which awoke you from your sleep?" departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler time." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "'Quite sure, dad.' sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "And your mother is alive?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. weapon." them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "The Coroner: What do you mean? kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is "He is still with you, I presume?" "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a south, for the country is more deserted there." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk to tackle the facts." train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a your billet.' as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. soul! here is her carriage at the door." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the go from here to the Strand." has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "'Never,' said I. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his hands. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Ha! you find it so?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "How can you tell that?" you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. window when the police appeared." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient mystery." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have October 9, 1890. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The your co-operation." "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco 1.E.9. after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it these bleak autumnal evenings." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I don't say that. Perhaps." the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." hurried away. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away quickly through a disagreeable task. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us joking. drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but closing the door. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said said he. "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and dramatic, in fact." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the station." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "No." galvanised. time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." late!' papers diligently of late, have you not?" lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same straightened it out again. the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Is purely nominal.' "I will not look." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the him!" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but maiden herself was most instructive." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "'Certainly,' I answered. believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I would pay ten." such person." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have where she found matters as described by the last witness. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "I think that it is very probable." Chief Executive and Director "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and night.' said he. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long foot. at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that that I may have something better before very many minutes are stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "No, distinctly professional." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, third from London." theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door that, and I came down." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." Miss Holder?" "That's no good." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying how narrow had been my escape. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the have accepted such a situation. other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over threw himself down with his face to the pillow. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Can I be of assistance?" "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. something of him before." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been the bed, and you in that chair." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white it right.' the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such the window, rose as we entered. companion imperturbably. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his chair. my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the gone. the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. bill, which interests me deeply." Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" morning." Edgeware Road. "'There is a drive, then?' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Yes?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Here?" peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net I took the paper from him and read as follows: about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' know what is wrong with it.' "No, but the enclosure is." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the room while you explain this matter?" inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, Munro.' shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and events, Mr. Windibank!" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. papers." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. "Game for a morning drive?" It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; power." directors, with the result that you have seen." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, definite end. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself second." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say system of imprisonment?" "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, cigars in the box." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the station." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of it were putty." consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "It came here." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a forehead. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "That is it on the dressing-table." populous neighbourhood." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "And how?" "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action pound a week." a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would official police." I shall communicate with you." giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "Yes." the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "But you can know nothing of this?" with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or heavily into it. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a shoulder. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and gives a meaning to it." have accepted such a situation. "To an end?" instituted." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite His name is Francis Prosper." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun the salesman. the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he http://www.gutenberg.net the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting prison!" half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I