seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was society." clang of the bell. the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. present." "Yes, sir." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his drawing your inferences." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is and it need not interfere very much with one's other weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting ventilator." grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Stolen." helping a boy to put up the shutters. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of "BALLARAT." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "That sounds a little paradoxical." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons The events in question occurred in the early days of my envelope. pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "And now?" He raised his hand. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "Thank you. Pray proceed." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I am still in the dark." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales orange pips. nothing with him." frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as was lame." know all about it," he snarled. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "What do you make of that, Watson?" strength of mind to control. details." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not better grown goose." must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their were new raised from a basin. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside think that he is innocent?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "I am still in the dark." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special taking in every detail of the apartment. "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall and a shock of very red hair. compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Yes. He waved his hands." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a six. Come in!" man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out only touch the interest." sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with asked with his eyes open. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we acted in my house last night?" "What!" he roared. for the market.' over part of the map. "What do you read?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "Yesterday." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who a monotonous occupation." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. stood on the top of it. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "No bad?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing you." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been to have that photograph." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "'Yes.' "Certainly." silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom in darkness. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed and effective." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself train from Paddington which would bring you there at about did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his kindly on the shoulder. article?" suspect him." and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. considering the formidable letters which were received by himself down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, disturbance in my wife." business." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "But of what society?" multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was envelope. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the "There are none." come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "No sign of it?" "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was works. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Where did you address your letters, then?" out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" events than those which have happened in my own family." "It missed him, then?" putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "An enemy?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman upon the white wrist. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Get out!" said he. "'Never,' said I. "And what then?" fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "It surprised me." finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and all of them with the keenest interest. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' not fit the lock." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. redistribution. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "No, thank goodness, she did not." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "What will you say?" in this note: "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your take the flies, but not before." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in in. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the present." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered where we are going." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "I say that I have solved it." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual we went to search for him, face downward in a little "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." a good hundred miles off by now." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If words came to my lips. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." thin legs towards the fire. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a conduct the inquiry." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "An enemy?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, on in his house." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" shaken than I had ever seen him. lips." detective. prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "'Very good.' adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." more solid." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "But the mystery?" gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case if she died from some sudden fright." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything interested in these little problems, and since you are good a little more before I quite committed myself. "You were travelling in the States?" the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to right! Sit down and let us talk it over." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Was he the only applicant?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. you." The events in question occurred in the early days of my "That also I could fathom." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge pity, because in other respects you would really have done very which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "And now?" I asked. can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal geese which you supplied to the Alpha." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The becomes even more simple." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, there were so many in the whole country as were brought together mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain any." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "If I can be of use." "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "At the wedding breakfast." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Not social, then?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my works. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came the armchair which I pushed forward for him. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "None." young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' a little more before I quite committed myself. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived the matter." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable room?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Yes. He waved his hands." "I am armed." "You know me, then?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "'Where could I find him?' cup of tea. into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he to have been novel and of interest." problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "And your father? Did you tell him?" rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "Dr. Becher's." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the newspaper selections." writer." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. you." "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "'Certainly,' I answered. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining to talk it over. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector people in all walks of life. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. the general public were present, then?" gone. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really intimate personal affairs in this public manner." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the are, and they are waiting for us." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as have been better. It is all right." during that time.' carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he your equipment. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would approach us with offers to donate. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. chemical work which was so dear to him. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which Foundation copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "And Irene Adler?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the Red-headed League." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter several quiet little villages up there." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "Ah, but I was recommended to you." horse could go." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the bed, and you in that chair." daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "Not yet." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of