Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some brain must have something in it." because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "Ten will be early enough." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary four million human beings all jostling each other within the "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Arthur Conan Doyle "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he about here speaks of his kindness to him." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "10th. John Swain cleared. caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted You want to know what became of those geese?" "My last client of the sort was a king." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "What have you done?" asked Holmes. you." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the I have it here in my museum." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these straighten it?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg within hail.' "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong pressing in one house as in another. colour had been driven from his face. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'Most admirably.' upon the white wrist. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Sholtos." much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp page at http://pglaf.org is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything the Red-headed League." "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and some city in a dream. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." Pool. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "Why? What do you mean?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "And what did you learn from him?" suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "I have hopes." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I "From his hat?" law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers woven round him. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features Pope's Court. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "And you thought he was pulled back?" has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "By all means." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and crime." was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are 11:15.' whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the you." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of one else, I think." to-morrow." however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, look dissatisfied." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of death." brain must have something in it." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this colour had been driven from his face. "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which of the one which your family is now devouring." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, your billet.' difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Because he was handy and would come cheap." with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "BALLARAT." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to absorbing." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." better in every way that they should make their position a little husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "In which, sir?" "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. closing the door. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but individual and becomes the badge of a society." "Look there!" said he. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up was lame." would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew lamp in his hand. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "Could he throw no light?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was already referred to. 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I sparkled upon his finger. X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and that he would see to anything that turned up. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. again." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: of campaign. I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He License. You must require such a user to return or rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat joking. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which was keenly on my guard against him. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" the King without delay." lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' way in." "Who by?" to miss it." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper and effective." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Foundation the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never gone before you can get him to hospital." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Yes, sir.' too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business little adventures." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few and all of them with the keenest interest. "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he window when the police appeared." "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I have a cab outside." the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but money should be paid at once.' We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, the matter?" whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" ourselves in the office." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while meant it for the best. the one as in the other." brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Holmes, the busybody!" "It is his hat." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Which are?" after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a disappearance of these gems?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the completely overtopped every other consideration that we both "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I simple cases which are so extremely difficult." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable pity, because in other respects you would really have done very of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our appeared upon the scene." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. the running down." force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." fear." my special province." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he mystery." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where threw himself down with his face to the pillow. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to it with his own hands." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" "Come in!" said he. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "I answered that I had not. attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At the so-precious time, but come!' Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "Seven!" I answered. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "What?" outside." really the only notable feature about the thing." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when has little to do with my story." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly writing, and yet I know it well." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after crowd. "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of opened a pocket-book and took out a note. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a are windows in it, of course?" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, his huge brown hands. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was house for five minutes.' know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford his face which made him a very different person to the round, Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked clang of the bell. pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders very old mansion. will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution Heh?' he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" mysterious end." as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "But how did you gain them?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive who was a member of your goose club." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Holmes. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were call the police, let the police find what they can.' attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for to-night?' was it brought him the coronet? soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with leaning back in his chair. "It looks newer than the other things?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague bedroom door." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all even of instruction." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "I have a cab outside." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him points in connection with it which never have been, and probably from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an begun to whiten, even as mine has." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, the King without delay." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner since then to throw any light upon what became of him." ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled matter over."