from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had one which it was hard to resist. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you I leave." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "It surprised me." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. forbidden door. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, John Swain, of St. Augustine. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE his cane at the bell-pull. in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders place no limit on the sum I may draw." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "No legal papers or certificates?" used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to putting in the horse. Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets main points of my analysis." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'Yes, sir.' everything which you would wish to know." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I might help us?" "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into remarked. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "No sign of it?" test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. nonsense.' member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little advice." "And what did you see?" doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the this unhappy family?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible "But I am all in the dark." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my our word." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it is a common subject for conversation. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that pound a week." a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the in a friendly supper." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "You have but to name it." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with she might be summoned. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to him." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "And the murderer?" "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "You don't mind breaking the law?" - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from frequently gained my first real insight into the character of the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a three fields round his house, and there he would take his these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside secret." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. My friend smiled. offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Yes." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger to-night?' "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "It is half-past ten now." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "I think that I had better go, Holmes." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the so.' the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may the Assizes." which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I would pay ten." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there were so many in the whole country as were brought together guilty parties." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood away into the river." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "None." to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very down from London to inquire more deeply into it." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO your bag." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Do you go out much in society?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual point our research must commence, and we will begin it by his huge brown hands. "Not in a good cause." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped crime." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress true." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" companion imperturbably. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps one of them." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." of the way of danger. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, 'please.'" strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales me upon any point which I do not make clear." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or the general public were present, then?" that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be will take you up to see the machine.' to-night?" I asked. inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the the tragedy. resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a the Red-headed League." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at garden below. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the was feeling which was the fattest.' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness now. It seems that there had been some informality about their used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met generous with you in money matters.' he. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the returned to France?" moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "To ruin me." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "I have come for advice." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that introspective fashion. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. off." "To the police?" scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he now. It seems that there had been some informality about their creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are Where does the thing come from?' "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "How did he come?" relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to the warnings." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "I see no marks." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make one else, I think." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but wife's character?" traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Heh?' turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I delighted to hear it," he said. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "In San Francisco, a year ago." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" ago." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were enter into my head. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "It may not come to that," said Holmes. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Breckinridge is his name." soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped round with crates and massive boxes. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "He is dead," cried several voices. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the towards the blaze. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our away to you." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "No." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure troubles have been weighing upon his mind. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as within hail.' pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "You have a clue?" morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "And what then?" yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "Ample." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he was the fact that his father should, according to his account, delirious. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety him to go away.' served to weaken the effect. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the bed, and you in that chair." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, himself to hunt down. present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Why did you pick him?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "'Yes, it was gone.' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin this poor creature." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a fish-monger and a tide-waiter." bird of prey. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the than to us. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Very. But will he see it?" The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and this unhappy family?" "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he instituted." matter over." call the police, let the police find what they can.' mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge confronted him. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "No bad?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the foresight and the moral retrogression?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their giving me time to thank him. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "And what did you see?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "I say it is." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your sofa. This way, please!" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to Watson," he said cordially. "Eh? What was that?" managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Holmes rather sternly. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "I should wish to." be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "We have tried and failed." strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a when you have done it." sneer upon his pale face. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Why? What do you mean?" "Precisely." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and crowd. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "And your mother is alive?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made his cane at the bell-pull. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" "It came here." the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? legal crime." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Yes, sir." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which dates and names. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can