said he. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming know all about it," he snarled. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce been with you?" in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I thin, with a long, sharp nose?" fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the coronet in his hand?" large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. you in your example." "Entirely." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven has little to do with my story." yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Where does the thing come from?' unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two waste of energy." past. very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" "Yes, only one." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the hand, madam?" and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We it right.' at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "How often?" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few where she found matters as described by the last witness. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "Always." swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Certainly." bird I ate is country bred." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my unprecedented a position." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and less than 26s. 4d. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have thought that she would have been so carried away." form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable Sutherland?" broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. evidence," I remarked. The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with interest. They are important, you understand, without being "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is leave you to your papers for a little." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to "And you thought he was pulled back?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul direction." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope companion quietly. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker of the vacancies.' myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no it." "You did not overhear what they said?" when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite think you a quite exceptional woman." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that noise which awoke you from your sleep?" my little problems." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "But how did you gain them?" uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." observed. lumber-room." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its room. in his power. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "Where, indeed?" "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem feature." "Quite so. She has her freedom." exactly what you advise." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers tear off another piece?' Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy From what you have told me I think that it is possible that science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if present." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "I see no marks." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A through." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "To ruin me." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a to change my dress. Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "A greater distance to travel." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he place of silver." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of grasp, he hurried from the room. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "None." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "My own seal." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only be. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, silent! Oh, he will be silent!' are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "Here?" before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the that, and I came down." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "They are typewritten," I remarked. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "No." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Will you bet, then?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be during which he might have communicated with his friend the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "I will try. What is it?" when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to approach us with offers to donate. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, and effective." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'Which dealer's?' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their room had already been engaged for us. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, been." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with keep the flames under. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your that he has suffered." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, the date of his supposed suicide." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." acquaintance?" those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" this as likely?" robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards Count Von Kramm." I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Won't it ring?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who together. upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you License. You must require such a user to return or to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I of the one which your family is now devouring." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no me where it went to?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the kind enough to tell me what I should do." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "I should wish to." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with some city in a dream. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a should be so warm over such a trifle." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. noise which awoke you from your sleep?" ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently felt?" was shining brightly. "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal nonsense.' "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his of his shoulders. "Just look it up, then." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had row." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to It may be so in this case, also." said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Texas, I think." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Come in!" said Holmes. made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "But who is he?" "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's power." "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I "The gentleman I describe." awaited us upon the table. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Mrs. Toller serenely. Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable indeed happy." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love "Yes, the wine-cellar." a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "I think that it is very probable." and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you vanished into the darkness. the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. man. "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already only touch the interest." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of sofa. This way, please!" THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE future lives." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Not I." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "'Where could I find him?' his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "To an end?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning that you saw all that I did." without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and where she found matters as described by the last witness. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the ceiling. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Then, how do you know?" through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the 'please.'" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "Oh, yes, easily." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg shoulder. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." had picked up in the wood. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to back into the street. "'And the work?' "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "I am armed." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He Holmes' face clouded over. became a certainty. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "Then I am your man." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I do." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Which surely he restored to their owner?" he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Can I be of assistance?" a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?"