member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Pray do so." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! head. So long, then!" "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle I approached. "Seven!" I answered. fear." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was and shall probably return to London by the evening train." wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "Which are?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Can I be of assistance?" "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. has little to do with my story." all-comprehensive glances. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who point our research must commence, and we will begin it by so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not silent! Oh, he will be silent!' ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting business at Coburg Square is serious." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the society." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "What are they?" paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' was it brought him the coronet? "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "You think so, too?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "It was an hour's good drive." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the giving me time to thank him. writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain once more. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the window, rose as we entered. I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "'There is a drive, then?' Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the maiden herself was most instructive." the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. criminal. We have already had experience of such." my special province." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more wall." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A It may be so in this case, also." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "'You cannot say what it was?' "But the mystery?" "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "My dear Holmes!" matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "That is unusual in a young girl." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that not interfere, come what may. You understand?" what these perils are?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I would pay ten." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Quite so." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "I am in hopes that she does." "Yes." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon least a fellow-countryman. "Why serious?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the nothing of it?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "Quite so. She has her freedom." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of very morning of my second wedding." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "It goes to the housekeeper's room." the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "I should be immensely obliged to you." and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed License. You must require such a user to return or from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it place of silver." he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are seven miles from Eyford Station.' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "I know where it is." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Yes, from Horsham." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a companion imperturbably. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "Well, but China?" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. both be extremely obliged.' an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of a light. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, outsides of the windows. after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the did not hear it also.' "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you whereabouts. enter into my head. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "My Mary? Impossible!" "Yes, the wine-cellar." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with vanished into the darkness. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between have not had my rubber." results." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to character. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual direction." enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put prison!" "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the must compliment you." "Never." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I indiscretion." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I said he. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire me. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to your troubles." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed speckled band?" "Yes, sir." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" means taking possession of that which another person has a prior in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may or other trace. But how on earth--" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Only as much as we can deduce." second window is the one that I jumped from." I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Have you it here?" unprofitable." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had detective. Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "You did not overhear what they said?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "You are hungry," I remarked. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "What can you not understand?" other lovers by making love himself." had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch purpose of examination. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent "What is it, then--a fire?" "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point plantation.' severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before over part of the map. "What do you read?" of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up companion. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out and your relations to her." to his chemical studies. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "None. Neville wrote those words." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "What will you do, then?" have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is kind enough to tell me what I should do." Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." gbnewby@pglaf.org The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there take the flies, but not before." however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from question you as to those details which seem to me to be most building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will Pope's Court. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of You want to know what became of those geese?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the Friday. Was it to be in church?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and discontent upon his features. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "It was." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been what I may call a really hard day's work." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "We were both in the photograph." strength." conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the the coronet in his hand?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He lost nothing by them." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands as this. Pray let me have the details." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two any." "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "You have but to name it." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "Pray tell us what has happened to you." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "We were both in the photograph." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to bearing upon the case." that you can jump it.' good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than knowledge of the world." that from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? laugh and put his lips to my ear. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger of them has the shutters up.' "You have but to name it." "Do you go out much in society?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "'I have heard so.' "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "But he might be a bachelor." "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he side. "Why, it's a dummy," said he. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." and no precautions can guard against." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately said he at last. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. and a shock of very red hair. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my few hundred pounds.' some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was beg that you will break it off." "In what way?" asked Holmes. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square ashen face. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "How did he come?" believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his very morning of my second wedding." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed acquaintance?" neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our the matter." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend matters immensely." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'Then let me do so?' "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of you do it in twenty minutes!' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to Cross for the Continent." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had the bed, and you in that chair." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I am in hopes that she does." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with one of them." the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "The gentleman I describe." papers diligently of late, have you not?" twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "No. His orders were to stay in the house." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir of it with the greatest attention. consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a felt?" while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked read it out to me." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that