"And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they out." what do you think they found in the pockets?" constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face there was no need for father to know." I shall communicate with you." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I have my revolver," said I. "You have but to name it." him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the telegram would bring me down to your help." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has that the gas is not laid on in his house?" am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Clair, of Lee." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes The police have openly confessed that they can at present make surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you be best to do. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of do you make of it all?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is fait accompli?" "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he way in." "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling knowledge of the world." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was is acting for the best. which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his south, for the country is more deserted there." "Yes, sir." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'I am sure if I had known--' shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "I am following you closely," I answered. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause tapping his fingers upon the table. discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "'Is 4 pounds a week.' "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered there!' "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Pray do so." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Married! When?" Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to again before evening." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Yes, I have one waiting." foot. "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with tell him that I know him to be innocent." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Nothing." "'There is a drive, then?' upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "Stolen." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "'Very good.' been deceived." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" of his shoulders. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "No, I am descending." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal key turn in the lock." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" shaken than I had ever seen him. minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "Certainly." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up too. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it with frightened eyes at his accuser. tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of will be renamed. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes situation." off." to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her did not hear it also.' during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four do you make of it all?" scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the Friday. Was it to be in church?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate too. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. look upon these things in a different way." say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, felt the room to be a little close.' astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another I am not easy in my mind about them." One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was thin, with a long, sharp nose?" He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take Henry Baker is a member." minor matters until to-morrow." "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I am to be neutral?" to that open window." course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the King without delay." had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "And I to find an enemy." best detective that ever lived. are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect everything which you would wish to know." "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to chemical work which was so dear to him. chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the views." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue stalked out of the room. some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "And what then?" written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace absolutely follow my advice in every respect." case before our client came into the room." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the coronet in his hand?" the ceiling. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and think that he is innocent?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became breakfast?" province." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "And now?" He raised his hand. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and get her out of the way." could go. he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, cheerful." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' shoulder. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. other, as fresh and trim as possible. "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "But of what society?" The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at own family. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was made his money." "Always." keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'Entirely.' comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a morning." have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." purpose of examination. "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always furiously. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. matter." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." I shall communicate with you." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "'About the same.' "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a License. You must require such a user to return or threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Ample." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Who was the criminal, then?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Then, how do you know?" it." gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow drove away. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "You don't mind breaking the law?" the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to quite distinctive." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "Did you become engaged then?" "I say that I have solved it." habit of advancing money.' "Will you go?" grasp, he hurried from the room. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "You forget that I know nothing about it." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in becomes even more simple." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Awake, Watson?" he asked. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day retorted upon me, and I on you." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "What! You do not mean bodies?" good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "But she will refuse." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! followed. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who been shamefully used." observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. which our visitor detailed to us. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll go--none." it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the joking. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa laugh and put his lips to my ear. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'Ample.' drove away. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' his knees, staring into the fire. appointment with me for six o'clock?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your take the flies, but not before." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped himself to hunt down. "Then you may entirely rely on me." morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an