"The doctor?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Gutenberg-tm License. my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "In heaven's name, what for?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have generous with you in money matters.' she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then father's young wife. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." putting in the horse. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty back alive. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and his forehead." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in Surrey." that you wished to speak to me?' against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for client, rising. rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, nights." happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington main points of my analysis." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are narrative." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." head. So long, then!" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "Could he throw no light?" "What office?" "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Quite so." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of him to be an active member of the medical profession." could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off individual and becomes the badge of a society." there!' and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "What! a murderous attack?" hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. even so self-evident a thing as that." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Absolutely?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. a room. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the ceremony." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from he bowed and left the room without another word. grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of thought that she would have been so carried away." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. Lee, in the county of Kent." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my perplexity from it to my illustrious client. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from breakfast?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a was a lad." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me works. See paragraph 1.E below. chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. writing, and yet I know it well." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. me. You must get home instantly and act." now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she congenial hunt. intrusion of other matters." this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, said I. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" to-morrow." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward in this way: "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "You are all wrong." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." which we had just quitted. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds murdered man." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own confronted him. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the papers diligently of late, have you not?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "I think that it is very probable." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried stalked out of the room. transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but Again Holmes raved in the air. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually into her hand at the door and which lured her within their and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the man. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging south, for the country is more deserted there." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just character. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of future lives." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap get her out of the way." into the room. "Then how many are there?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to what these perils are?" But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "But it has twice been burgled." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about room?" "'About the same.' breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "And Irene Adler?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Precisely so. But how--" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "They are typewritten," I remarked. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. that I may have something better before very many minutes are that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." companion quietly. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could examine." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "But how could you guess what the motive was?" process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his affair. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "I cannot tell." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to may never be exposed to such a temptation." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Then I shall certainly come." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "None." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "You'll never persuade me to believe that." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "'You cannot say what it was?' also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Countess of Morcar's?" everything which you would wish to know." to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, present." "Yesterday." Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Never." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much husband's writing, madam." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "I promise," said Holmes. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to useful material for showing traces. The double line a little gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "'Where could I find him?' a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made been shamefully used." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into morning." "It is a murder, then?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the salesman. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'Where to?' to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it "You heard nothing yourself last night?" with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than as this. Pray let me have the details." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. "I guessed as much." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." that he has suffered." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Where to?" during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court think, you have already met." was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." other means.' man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have evidence," I remarked. hurried by. "Why, what do you mean?" "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away you?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an enough to aid us in our search." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Was there a secret marriage?" "What office?" Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in front of the hall door has given its name to the place. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "'Entirely.' to change my dress. beyond words. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from ways of our fellow-men." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up bore every mark of being an average commonplace British very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do which was all perfectly true. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." conclusions. least a fellow-countryman. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "To an end?" down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "What?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the one's self under obligations.' "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news use an arc-and-compass breastpin." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with constraint." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I said he. "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "The gentleman I describe." this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "I have a cab outside." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Nothing." the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself salesman. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his which we had just quitted. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I villagers almost as much as their master. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get if only as a check to my own memory." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring note?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my and inquire as to the address." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must matter." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "'You cannot say what it was?' face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in respectable self." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed do.' reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of recover the gem." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, cheerful." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the