"'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Mrs. Toller serenely. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance "Ten will be early enough." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have train from Paddington which would bring you there at about and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had you." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this sparkled upon his finger. rose-bushes. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Oh, the cause is excellent!" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "What will you say?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "'And the work?' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally followed. particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I in the dead of the night?' The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long details should find their way into the papers. Inspector take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What this as likely?" Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "And I to find an enemy." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been system of imprisonment?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And future lives." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the comes from the middle window." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "I am following you closely," I answered. Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely read it out to me." husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, had picked up in the wood. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses dead, shall be safe with us." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. national property. I was determined that the law should have its "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I cannot tell." need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might bled considerably." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: 1.E.9. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah off." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Never." Holmes' thin, eager face. the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is most interesting one." night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I both be extremely obliged.' Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside off." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away any little problem which you may submit to me." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "And I to find an enemy." these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "I was mad--insane." shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and outside." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her one else, I think." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag I held the little printed slip to the light. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost fear." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot grasp, he hurried from the room. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save suddenly upon us." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three there is a decided draught." trying to your nerves." "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "And did you observe any change in her then?" should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" delirious. of receipt of the work. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive manager. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features eavesdroppers?' down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'Which dealer's?' occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything union?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "What are they?" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "Which are?" suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in standing smiling on the door-step. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey passage and a tap at the door. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the to a more successful conclusion." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed time." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of highroad, where all traces were lost. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "It must be recovered." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "No." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I is," said he presently: "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "But I am all in the dark." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. kind enough to tell me what I should do." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, Farm upon the left." started for the Temple to see my husband. butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There obstinate." "I will do it." Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an what I may call a really hard day's work." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp The King stared at him in amazement. "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Was she in good spirits?" main points of my analysis." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about persecution?" visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will hour." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see that, and I came down." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking fait accompli?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "But you can know nothing of this?" "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired down. bachelor.' "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the foresight and the moral retrogression?" "So I have heard." "Yes, he did." been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "'I shall certainly be there.' woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train handed it to him. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "Did your wife hear all this?" "By no means." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Ample." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my gone before you can get him to hospital." "There are none." "When did it break out?" terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." been with you?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler because she had spent so short a time in this country that she We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "And the cigar-holder?" will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "That's no good." "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached considering the formidable letters which were received by himself "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the detained." The police have openly confessed that they can at present make intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Was he the only applicant?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, clang of the bell. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man certainly not very gracious." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "Really! You surprise me." "Perfectly so." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the with you alone." Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "But the mystery?" in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "I guessed as much." to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on that you can jump it.' "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There again, where I was soon asleep. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Why that?' I asks. He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in "It goes to the housekeeper's room." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, your equipment. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. waste of energy." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for only touch the interest." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he I held the little printed slip to the light. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "His face fell immediately. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the coronet in his hands?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "A confidential servant?" shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" 11:15.' always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "What is it?" "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "And you can do nothing until then?" posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "She walked into the breakfast-room." TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. the very morning of the wedding." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "And how did you verify them?" "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a off." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "'Is 4 pounds a week.' who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first assist you in forming an opinion." "Very truly yours, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend discontent upon his features. chill to my heart. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the without success. At last the little money which I had saved began fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to the coronet in his hands?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "Certainly." "Yes. He waved his hands." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "A confidential servant?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Then I shall certainly come." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. foot. so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Gutenberg-tm License. better in every way that they should make their position a little "I answered that I had not. labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I matters immensely." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "And your father? Did you tell him?" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room.