it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears kind enough to tell me what I should do." writers could invent nothing more crude." "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches will be renamed. only touch the interest." assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small of the one which your family is now devouring." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair congenial hunt. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get tell them apart.' he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, bird of prey. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his arrested. You then--" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "Whose house is it?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a bedroom door." you." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the seem to you to be relevant or not." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now success. "A call for help, you thought?" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you him and tried to hold him back. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. and glanced through. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Do you go out much in society?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry friends, not even his own brother. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if seen the man in the road." dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such question you as to those details which seem to me to be most my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was speckled band?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "If I can be of use." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." this man was intellectual?" You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears face and glided from the room. him to be an active member of the medical profession." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, key turn in the lock." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his was shining brightly. cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, investigation." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "That's no good." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, direction." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been lips." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "About a month then." good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Yes, there are nearly always some there." and laid it on the table. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' with frightened eyes at his accuser. maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Was there a secret marriage?" "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age once more to my work. sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "'Is 4 pounds a week.' most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Eyford." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Dark enough and sinister enough." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "So I am. Very much so." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "And did you observe any change in her then?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Never." "'I have already given you my word.' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I and looked back. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can my secret was safe in his possession. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." seem to you to be relevant or not." "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and October 9, 1890. a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a that I can to serve you." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "How did you deduce the select?" from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were tied." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, down. undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I will try. What is it?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "Where to?" earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "And the cigar-holder?" "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the inner apartment." constraint." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and place no limit on the sum I may draw." placed his cuttings. direction." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your crime." springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him hardly wander." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked sentimental considerations in the background which would induce "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was conceal it?" He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and gone before you can get him to hospital." breakfast?" 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm any little problem which you may submit to me." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not matter." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the might have a private word with us. here and I will read it to you: "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Where, then?" "And why?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "What then?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it the running down." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you newspaper selections." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "BALLARAT." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this of receipt of the work. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Precisely so. But how--" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small before, for it was considerably after midnight. note?" "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether the child." narrative." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and chance at all." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining of them has the shutters up.' "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked I shall communicate with you." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this or other trace. But how on earth--" seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the matter." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" my special province." "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full learned something! Where are the gems?" "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the heavy and sharp instrument." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his had this final quarrel? condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether "Yes." had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his I nodded to show that I had heard. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can acquaintance?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him him, that man would not have given me such complete information request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency o'clock is it?" "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had seem to you to be relevant or not." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at forehead. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I one of the states of the Union." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. to you." it." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the during which he might have communicated with his friend the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "To an English lawyer named Norton." "Whose house is it?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" narrative." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Stoke Moran?" said he. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Project Gutenberg-tm works. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with "This photograph!" him and tried to hold him back. dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to think that any burglar could have done. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new you, my dear young lady?' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to excitement. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "Was the window open?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Never to return." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side investigation." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were wedding?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for case-book, which he consulted. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or to Leatherhead. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause unclasping of his long thin hands. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few