"I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case walking." my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say clanging. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. this Miss Turner." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," just called myself is not exactly my own." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with with frightened eyes at his accuser. crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really pound a week." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "It must be recovered." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged was a perfect sample of the class. "The rest you will leave in our hands." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his bled considerably." "None." the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Married! When?" end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "But to whom?" would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You with some details as to your case." vault. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat key of the affair now." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I business." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Proceed, then." direction." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester guilty one." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your you." expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped sooner or later she must fall a victim. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "My stepfather's business papers." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a villagers almost as much as their master. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make wall." "Upon what point?" Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further "Pray continue your narrative." Pool. are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg believe that I should never have any practice at all. this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Whose house is it?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have to have been novel and of interest." deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of she slowly sank and died without having recovered her "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I was certainly surprised to find you there." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, not, dad?" she asked. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of his fortune, and I went back to pa. "I will get her to show me." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which girl said." "I have hopes." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little minor matters until to-morrow." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "And now?" I asked. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great to-night?' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the see a sister of mine apply for." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the drove away. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. chance at all." status with the IRS. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no is," said he presently: where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he which it had come upon my father." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put colonel looking down at me. showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The said he at last. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away You can understand that this register and diary may implicate everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. cheerful." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small man. thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the is acting for the best. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Oh, yes, easily." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through the armchair which I pushed forward for him. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot of them has the shutters up.' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to something of him before." "One of the highest in England." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Stolen." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "I cannot think." companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most I shall continue with my miserable story. my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want room. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself you in yours." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "'I have heard so.' "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left for the market.' came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, newspaper selections." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I this remarkable episode. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall extraordinary contortions. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. do you make of it all?" pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "What?" cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do "But to whom?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his forehead. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. his fortune, and I went back to pa. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet think that he is innocent?" his eyes and forehead. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who Again Holmes raved in the air. signal between you and your father? Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "And from a noble client?" "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated your only hope of safety." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "How did you trace it, then?" "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "But his left-handedness." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. keep the flames under. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in strength." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." plantation.' "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock started for the Temple to see my husband. everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very seen the man in the road." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Was there a secret marriage?" "'Never,' said I. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" strength in the others." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "'Certainly not. But why?' "It came here." pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "10th. John Swain cleared. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms shoulder; "he's all right." corner of the building. and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. may never be exposed to such a temptation." was not a bird to be seen there. "Then you may be so with me." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if Henry Baker is a member." bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a locked." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the room. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "One of the highest in England." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "We were both in the photograph." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. which was all perfectly true. my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "My stepfather's business papers." vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box the morning and make my own way in the world.' saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." not personally threatened." "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the is now desirous of getting those letters back." skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "And now?" I asked. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and page at http://pglaf.org "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as thin legs towards the fire. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a weigh very heavily upon my conscience." them?" a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "We must have a cab." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated could gather together that I was able to avert another public "By no means." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" seven miles from Eyford Station.' three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was drove away. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Pool. she might be summoned. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "I have hopes." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled not as remarkable as your advertisement." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; be sorry for having acted so harshly." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. tell me that you intended to go into harness." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "And now?" He raised his hand. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "If so, much may have happened between." manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "But you have hopes?" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at tied." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the His name is Francis Prosper." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "What will you do, then?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "Here?" highly," said Holmes. which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young maid will bring up your coffee." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know interested in these little problems, and since you are good down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will promised to bring home. place, I think that there is good ground to think that the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. McCarthy." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court goes." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my introspective fashion. to a more successful conclusion." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Where to?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." go--none." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That photograph a cabinet?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Dirty?" shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may discontent upon his features. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old mystery may be cleared along those lines." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought Leave Paddington by the 11:15." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for fled together." "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "No good news?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my information in his hands the value of which he did not himself his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "'Which dealer's?' the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "No legal papers or certificates?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. least a fellow-countryman. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on prisoner's face. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace.