"After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. always that they were such commands as a lady might with moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "So it appears." "Well." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more unclasping of his long thin hands. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some any." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and II. "'Quite sure, dad.' "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may a room. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "That is it on the dressing-table." answered with a sidelong glance. "Married! When?" "I will, Miss Turner." corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "How did you trace it, then?" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but that there was nothing in it, after all." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'What, the red-headed man?' "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" way: or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could you in yours." Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. I nodded to show that I had heard. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "Absolutely none." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "I would pay ten." layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "I have seen the police." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "My own seal." meant." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of she might be summoned. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed at home. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so to you." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Ha! you find it so?" "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "The King of Scandinavia." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "A thing like a cleaver," said he. My friend smiled. "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "I say that I have solved it." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "No." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled man. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one happened." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must father's young wife. arrested. You then--" Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup matter." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my existence." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some was already answered. "But how?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "In the cells." "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. light and attacked it." "I would give my fortune to have them back." calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. strength." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in morning." way in everything. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert of them has the shutters up.' over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." giving me time to thank him. "But to whom?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. not, dad?" she asked. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now his cane at the bell-pull. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an not use it unless it is absolutely needed." hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for with the outside air!" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' will take you up to see the machine.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, union?" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Perhaps I have." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as answer." "Yes." that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "So I have heard." small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Then I can wait in the next room." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." or other trace. But how on earth--" "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "It is true that I have been generally successful." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I remarked. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the even of instruction." to Leatherhead. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Yes." think that he is innocent?" say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my go--none." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I I was concerned in it." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "How often?" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir It may be so in this case, also." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it eavesdroppers?' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. back into the street. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of should be taken.' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "The rest you will leave in our hands." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of few hundred pounds.' "Then the page we have seen--" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Eyford." to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" other means.' "Where, then, is my wife?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. from you?" stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in returned to France?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my this as likely?" bled considerably." eat it." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be remarked. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "How long did she speak to this Alice?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger light and attacked it." "No, I am descending." that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the whether it answered to the description of any of their served to weaken the effect. "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." unprecedented a position." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a back to my heart. exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. of the one which your family is now devouring." other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to along the entire front of the house, with three long windows man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "'Where could I find him?' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "Indeed! Whose, then?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "She showed me, as I told you she would." it means?" seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we him nearly every evening." Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is the stones. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Stolen, then." "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is was a perfect sample of the class. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "The vanishing of the lady." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely character. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that me upon any point which I do not make clear." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can stalked out of the room. said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "I will try. What is it?" father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about have established a very serious case against the son of the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a I nodded again. sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. written, and locked the door of the office after me. moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Then how many are there?" which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "And sit in the dark?" there was no need for father to know." one of them." window when the police appeared." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." unclasping of his long thin hands. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our again on its way. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for that before taking the final step I should like to submit the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too keep the flames under. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the all-comprehensive glances. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his up this clue while it is still hot." peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every future lives." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps problems help me to do so." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. "By no means." It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "You did not overhear what they said?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "You horrify me." "The rest you will leave in our hands." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously him, that man would not have given me such complete information Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "Dirty?" "Oh, yes, easily." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these door?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and everything which you would wish to know." vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I entirely lost his self-respect." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this vague figure huddled up in the darkness. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE formed some opinion?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one gives a meaning to it." developed." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his one of them." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "The Coroner: What do you mean? "That is easily got." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope is," said he presently: Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully,