which we had just quitted. "I answered that I had not. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. floor. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "'Certainly not. But why?' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall happened." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "That is not always so easy." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her do.' "I say it is." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "No. What a strange idea!" near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the "Entirely." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away just ask you whether you had heard it.' "Quite so." look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "No, finished." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the shall use the carriage to-night." friends, not even his own brother. such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of and the church but not where the lady lived." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "And your father? Did you tell him?" Stoke Moran." "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to the one as in the other." out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of wedding?" "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the unkempt, staring out at me. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. hair?' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and them, and came down just as you departed. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "And what then?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "What! You do not mean bodies?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its mystery!" should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "I guessed as much." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear companion imperturbably. "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built Count Von Kramm." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were John Swain, of St. Augustine. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and business." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "'Is purely nominal.' invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" you." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Which are?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "'Certainly not.' she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside there." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" himself to hunt down. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be shaken than I had ever seen him. "I shall be delighted." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "It was an hour's good drive." "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, But Holmes shook his head gravely. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A to-night?' always that they were such commands as a lady might with things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." But Holmes shook his head gravely. subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Nothing." "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in exactly what you advise." "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "Upon what point?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that his eyes and forehead. at once, for I have only half an hour." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young be best to do. following enigmatical notices: "I beg pardon." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "But your client--" reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "That's no good." "None. Neville wrote those words." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "What shall I do?" that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance cup of tea. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate voice. stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain enough to aid us in our search." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are This is what he says: Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that cigars in their mouths. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Bought." agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all upon a handsome competence. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Yes." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "'There is a drive, then?' I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner back to my heart. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & suddenly upon us." "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "It looks newer than the other things?" a suggestive one." son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "How did he come?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, bachelor.' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few "And is that all?" drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for question. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography you, my dear young lady?' "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, soul! here is her carriage at the door." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are several quiet little villages up there." "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw bled considerably." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly chance." anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle tell him that I know him to be innocent." noble correspondent could be. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "I will get her to show me." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" way: "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "And how did you find out?" with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "It is very clear." We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked business in the City. She little knew what. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the Red-headed League." "What! You do not mean bodies?" silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have I am not easy in my mind about them." grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for fear." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered during the last few years, and there are many noble families to mystery." "But of what society?" were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a once more to my work. Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. sufficient punishment." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found chair. "You have carte blanche." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, round and wave him away like that.' wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Holmes. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone said he. a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "VIOLET HUNTER." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out carried out of court." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up opportunities to fix the problem. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior second window is the one that I jumped from." "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Will you go?" correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "Did he not advertise?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face "Married! When?" time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "How about poison?" present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "Bought." "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "But I have heard all that you have heard." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what neither fascinating nor artistic." careless servant girl?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the attention." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning feature." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for girl said." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." strong reason behind." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them dates and names. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not directly by questioning you." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him system of imprisonment?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and delirious. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "And the cigar-holder?" father's place of business?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from ready to-morrow?' peculiar to him. how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER here and I will read it to you: "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of husband's writing, madam." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "That also I could fathom." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? six. Come in!" "'Very good.' "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of companion imperturbably. forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "A call for help, you thought?" "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "It missed him, then?" hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" recall any case within my experience which looked at the first They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" even so self-evident a thing as that." wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I bachelor.' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more Heh?' "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time said I. all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was and wait." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I