"That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with of the one which your family is now devouring." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" disappearance of these gems?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "Your French gold?" though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new bears upon the case?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have your billet.' make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door the tragedy. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up address. "What, then?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that the best of training." narrative." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the night.' I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Witness: Nothing definite. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we I shall communicate with you." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, remarked. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything woven round him. hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more "My dear Holmes!" "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon to surprise her." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, than was visible to me." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed felt the room to be a little close.' call you and give you the chance." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Here?" "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three annoyance, but no jest. sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "9th. McCauley cleared. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "You think that he is dead?" the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. I nodded again. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my three fields round his house, and there he would take his At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." individual and becomes the badge of a society." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the sake, don't!" you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Witness: It was. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "May I see it?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment in the hope of finding them." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own too. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I is a common subject for conversation. you in your example." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: kindly on the shoulder. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as clang of the bell. absorbing." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "How did he come?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We again." "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached orange pips. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "If so, much may have happened between." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and certainly not very gracious." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Not yet." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "'There is a drive, then?' gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there present." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Chief Executive and Director rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever are windows in it, of course?" affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a was keenly on my guard against him. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "How do you know, then?" "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, to some other building. by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. any little problem which you may submit to me." follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and Farm upon the left." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said will he say when he returns?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Then the page we have seen--" of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "And did you observe any change in her then?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child stood on the top of it. gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the vanished into the darkness. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in without a word or a look. "What do you make of that, Watson?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "No good news?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "'It is locked up,' I answered. indeed happy." going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in get her out of the way." glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "'Very good.' one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but straightened it out again. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife question. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "I have come for advice." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "There are none." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution matter." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to that A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with I held the little printed slip to the light. companion. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester went to the Alpha were town bred." it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "The King of Scandinavia." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "I answered that I had not. of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is security.' position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The suggested at once that there must be a communication between the woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "No." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Well, but China?" a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not key turn in the lock." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "He slept on the premises." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock off." the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face lamp. the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "Do you go out much in society?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so not use it unless it is absolutely needed." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to advice." distinguish the words: By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe my little problems." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune our word." "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and Where does the thing come from?' sufficient punishment." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Where does the thing come from?' "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Nearly eleven." your troubles." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "Yes." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being room had already been engaged for us. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant During two years I have had three consultations and one small assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "'I am sure if I had known--' "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" business in the City. She little knew what. "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "Why, what do you mean?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his deduce something from that?" "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "How did he come?" the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get danger is over." nice household for a young lady." green of the new foliage. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as their singular warning or token before them when starting upon the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" compunction about shooting them down." envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "You have compromised yourself seriously." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this suddenly upon us." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and over here." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "My own seal." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'Where to?' expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my what do you think they found in the pockets?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." himself to hunt down. "Where, then?" murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a was it brought him the coronet? at home. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "From his hat?" "Yes." despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Doctor, of the paper and the date." doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "I will get her to show me." better grown goose." "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then question you as to those details which seem to me to be most game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have other, as fresh and trim as possible. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "I never have." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "In the cells." very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid "And what did you see?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Ten will be early enough." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very which I could not give. He asked for Alice. my secret was safe in his possession. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its room. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and God! What an exposure! What can I do?" despaired of." unclasping of his long thin hands. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "So it appears." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." and capable of preserving a secret.' through." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "What! Had he lost his wife?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would what I may call a really hard day's work." outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" the nursery. "I fear not." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most has little to do with my story." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. chill to my heart. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known death." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your