insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of opportunities to fix the problem. "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'Certainly,' I answered. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "I see no marks." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached drawing your inferences." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went to a more successful conclusion." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, redistribution. of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an ourselves in the office." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural Foundation "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always gone before you can get him to hospital." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "I say that I have solved it." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Lee, in the county of Kent." "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our a little more before I quite committed myself. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It tail." "I do." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "At the wedding breakfast." with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not that there was nothing in it, after all." cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "And on what day did he meet his death?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in clang of the bell. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "From his hat?" "Was she in good spirits?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended call it cruel." granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that said I. doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which "Yesterday." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Certainly." smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates criminal. We have already had experience of such." "I say that I have solved it." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Literary Archive Foundation back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet go from here to the Strand." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too his fortune, and I went back to pa. other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the where we are going." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So was it brought him the coronet? he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room you, my dear young lady?' "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we rooms." turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain wedding?" one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "And how did you verify them?" make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to me upon any point which I do not make clear." bears upon the case?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "I have my revolver," said I. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Who by?" "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave Heh?' looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out the loss of it. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our to miss it." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I disappearance of these gems?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than money should be paid at once.' Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of hurried away. there!' wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, His name is Francis Prosper." "That's no good." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have for securing the situation." "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible http://gutenberg.net/license). know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. are windows in it, of course?" the general public were present, then?" prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an with the outside air!" high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the my former friend and companion. "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted stalked out of the room. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such for securing the situation." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "And when will you call?" waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "Yes, all." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Yes. He waved his hands." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was coat-tails." fear." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I there were one or two details which were new to me. But the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone coroner's jury." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, from the brougham. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of figure." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over For additional contact information: reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, arrangements." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already it means?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been furiously. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent Holmes' thin, eager face. "In the cells." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? really the only notable feature about the thing." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the 1.E.9. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this possible that we could bring him back to her? "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed ashen face. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." rose-bushes. in the hope of finding them." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, cost them two and thirty pounds." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light "No, but the enclosure is." call it cruel." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Then you may entirely rely on me." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Where to?" consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing into the room. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had whatever might befall. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. easy-going way." used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "'Not at all. I only doubt--' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the there was no need for father to know." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call ago." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "I cannot imagine." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I assure you that I am in your hands." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "'And the work?' off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, where she found matters as described by the last witness. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these "And you don't know his address?" where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not second." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing fluttered off among the others. "Thank you. And your address?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the papers." she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, simple cases which are so extremely difficult." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into Farm upon the left." moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. address. colour had been driven from his face. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "And I to find an enemy." "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "He slept on the premises." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a do.' "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the for the market.' "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were Pope's Court. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found the coronet at all injured?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable question. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at extraordinary contortions. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "You horrify me." Holmes." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "How did you trace it, then?" "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and said I. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and be there in time for your coming." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I came to find a friend." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same retorted upon me, and I on you." morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that throat." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to ill-usage at the hands of fortune. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the This is what he says: dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "And Miss Sutherland?" although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. spare." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his and that he would see to anything that turned up. at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "So I am. Very much so." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." your co-operation." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "Where did he live, then?" "'A dozen yards or so.' forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said retorted upon me, and I on you." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Lestrade of Scotland Yard." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it