'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "You forget that I know nothing about it." or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking where we are going." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which foot. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had think that he is innocent?" along the entire front of the house, with three long windows hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "So I have heard." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had most interesting one." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the think, you have already met." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check fire. You quite follow me?" to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The results." upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek nonsense.' hereditary King of Bohemia." outsides of the windows. pound a week." habit of advancing money.' should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous which it had come upon my father." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "You have it, sir, just as it happened." every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'Yes.' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I am following you closely," I answered. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, Street. "And on what day did he meet his death?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. correct than the official force." might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building prisoner's face. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, like that before?" the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his just ask you whether you had heard it.' my former friend and companion. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the suddenly upon us." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "It certainly sounds feasible." here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure said he. important." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had you." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found that you wished to speak to me?' peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may upon the sideboard." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. hair?' Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some following enigmatical notices: man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Texas, I think." Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. appeared upon the scene." will he say when he returns?" "Certainly." do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, appointment with me for six o'clock?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Countess of Morcar's?" soul! here is her carriage at the door." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll joking. window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "I have my revolver," said I. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "Then, how do you know?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' hurried by. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "You did not overhear what they said?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry humiliation." poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must chambers. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "And how did he make his money?" this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at I leave." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "You have compromised yourself seriously." given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "That is it on the dressing-table." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, During two years I have had three consultations and one small intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was an introduction to him?" door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "I am about to be married." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "A client, then?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to coroner's jury." them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "'Stolen!' he cried. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "And help." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were done what I asked you, Jones?" wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived is acting for the best. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "But he might be a bachelor." place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his do." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, look dissatisfied." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and been shamefully used." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "The Coroner: What do you mean? "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a that you can jump it.' urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the coronet at all injured?" table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a fled together." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Where, indeed?" have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I will not look." believe that I should never have any practice at all. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Why serious?" "'Why that?' I asks. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, read over the extraordinary announcement. "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE you." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to asked. adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be to surprise her." the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Then you may be so with me." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. respectable self." not use it unless it is absolutely needed." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the have one." "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "What! You do not mean bodies?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to fire. You quite follow me?" out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it and a shock of very red hair. "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Where to?" crime. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Pope's Court. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed papers." my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was unkempt, staring out at me. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and waste of energy." 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I am to be neutral?" reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "How many? I don't know." "And how in the world did you find them?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's "The landlord of the Alpha." emerged. "It is possible." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if matter over." was already answered. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their a very grave face. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "I am still in the dark." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "Holmes, the busybody!" determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "And is that all?" find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of companion. street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" sake, don't!" Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." I approached. himself. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "I am to be neutral?" first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" Countess of Morcar's?" "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the until night should bring an explanation. chill to my heart. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave confronted him. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the was once confined in the cab my mission was practically I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an a suggestive one." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "And how in the world did you find them?" prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and formed some opinion?" way in everything. The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "The knees of his trousers." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "He disappeared so suddenly." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I would pay ten." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have what is your own theory as to what took place?" "Yes, it was twisted." approach us with offers to donate. "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case chill to my heart. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. the coroner come to?" home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "What will you say?" "Nothing." propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Come in!" said Holmes. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Perhaps I have." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had daring than any effort of the imagination." unkempt, staring out at me. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the overpowering excitement and concern. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of interests were the same as his." be sorry for having acted so harshly." His name is Francis Prosper." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have highroad, where all traces were lost. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ been." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our one else, I think." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most