province." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "'Yes, sir.' that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "No. His orders were to stay in the house." King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' dead, shall be safe with us." you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "I would pay ten." "Yes." friends, not even his own brother. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "It goes to the housekeeper's room." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door works. See paragraph 1.E below. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident interested in these little problems, and since you are good reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, said he. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "You have a clue?" shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of present." Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found is," said he presently: her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then tension within him. the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "It is no ordinary one." brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our papers must be those that are destroyed.' dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "My last client of the sort was a king." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting occupations.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "Then, as to money?" should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried that you saw all that I did." him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from been anything against him. He had for years been known as a at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" and all of them with the keenest interest. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "We were both in the photograph." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom ordinary clothes on?" sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "And when will you call?" better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to back alive. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole I. "The gentleman I describe." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He returned to France?" power." "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" "What then?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, have I gained?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across considering the formidable letters which were received by himself called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "So it appears." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and footfalls from the street. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he problems help me to do so." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "And you don't know his address?" heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of again before evening." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," purpose equally well?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the devil!" you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, relief. imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the was shining brightly. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a His name is Francis Prosper." them?" anything to do with the matter?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "'Never.' of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "Yes." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in hour?' surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; to-night." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out emerged. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. death." poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "No, but the enclosure is." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern existence." there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might and all of them with the keenest interest. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Precisely." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'Certainly not. But why?' connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it could not have written that. It is the German who is so my friend's incisive reasoning. "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Ah!" remarked. Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." had a long day." crackling voice. "Quite so. She has her freedom." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well meant." sound at heart." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "This concluded the examination of the witness." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "'No, I know no one in these parts.' it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "Did you become engaged then?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who look upon these things in a different way." "Ah!" real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, I. "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips and wait." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Ten will be early enough." works. See paragraph 1.E below. "In answer to an advertisement." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy way in." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." three fields round his house, and there he would take his what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "'Certainly not. But why?' My friend smiled. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest anything to a woman, for she would have her way." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "In answer to an advertisement." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not furiously. "Do you know him?" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately something of him before." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "I have seen the police." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." you." there when the Rucastles went away." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a to me. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four rat could hardly pass through." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "I say it is." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." speckled band?" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and gbnewby@pglaf.org month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "I shall be delighted." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my begun to whiten, even as mine has." think you a quite exceptional woman." "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I business matters.' "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded Count Von Kramm." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. she to prove their authenticity?" speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "It is half-past ten now." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "Yes, that is the Crown." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this make me his representative both with the servants and with the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps said Mr. Holder. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Precisely." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America and a shock of very red hair. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really only touch the interest." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Certainly, madam." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "I am in hopes that she does." "Imitated." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "'Stolen!' he cried. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "It certainly sounds feasible." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "And why?" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the loss of it. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I was a loud and authoritative tap. qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very know that the truth is known." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "An accident, I presume?" "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than "My photograph." delirious. "What is it, then--a fire?" "9th. McCauley cleared. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, manager. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "'How far from the body?' received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of approach us with offers to donate. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Why did you beat the pavement?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we it means?" "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior business in the City. She little knew what. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I better grown goose." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Why, it's a dummy," said he. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and in a friendly supper." quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of all that?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "You horrify me!" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. out of this horrible affair." unprecedented a position." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "How did that help you?" came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "'Oh, no.' success. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a cup of tea. purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. appointment with me for six o'clock?" heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by the nursery. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Why, what do you mean?" have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the "No." "'I have heard so.' delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth,