"I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have Miss Holder?" husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Why did you beat the pavement?" me where it went to?" Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for shoulder; "he's all right." served to weaken the effect. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "I should wish to." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what your room." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Yes, all." on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call the inner apartment." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Game for a morning drive?" The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Imitated." all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining to surprise her." "And Miss Sutherland?" "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "At half-wages, in fact." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came quite distinctive." day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a client, rising. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." points to suicide?" it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad when you have done it." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." me have 200 pounds?' "One of the highest in England." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your my little problems." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Nothing?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "One?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of the little opening for the ventilator is." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. plantation.' "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "No more words. Get out!" "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his people don't know." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort unprofitable." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a ways of our fellow-men." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such own family. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder "The Cedars?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I should wish to." the coroner come to?" I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "How did that help you?" at my own good fortune. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by as the one I chose?' hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "And how in the world did you find them?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness "Your presence might be invaluable." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and said Mr. Holder. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. noble correspondent could be. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "At half-wages, in fact." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in nights." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I say that I have solved it." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. quick march!" took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she very morning of my second wedding." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You him!" about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his me what he had done with the three missing stones. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to father's young wife. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only was already answered. "Of what day?" abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and know what is wrong with it.' with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Yes." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the do." stammered. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Gutenberg-tm License. these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I one of them." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "You are hungry," I remarked. which it had come upon my father." ashen face. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally hopeless attempt at recovering them." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." felt the room to be a little close.' note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "But you would not advise me to refuse?" Mary, has deserted me." little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "Upon what point?" absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Yesterday." of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid case before our client came into the room." was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "VIOLET HUNTER." so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" posted to-day." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or rat could hardly pass through." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Yes." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, correct than the official force." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank approach us with offers to donate. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of gone before you can get him to hospital." 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed to Leatherhead. "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "It is possible." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss the Friday. Was it to be in church?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined unprecedented a position." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across whether it answered to the description of any of their me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid bled considerably." on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates trying to your nerves." were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed "And how did you verify them?" machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just just ask you whether you had heard it.' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "That is easily got." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no that threaten you." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Nothing." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and there when the Rucastles went away." the ceiling. "Precisely." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong quite distinctive." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers she might be summoned. breakfast?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of the armchair which I pushed forward for him. he. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax be.' presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Not yet." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch http://www.gutenberg.net here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." other lovers by making love himself." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "Then he might have called to you?" "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This of fine shops and stately business premises that they really gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was read it out to me." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "Which are?" Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "And I say east," said my patient. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the away to you." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to cheerful." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned October 9, 1890. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "And now?" I asked. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major learned something! Where are the gems?" back into the street. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "Game for a morning drive?" "When did it break out?" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in such person." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the friends, not even his own brother. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "I cannot tell." "Witness: I must still refuse. on re-entering her father's house?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he yourselves in at night?" still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and never will be, entirely cleared up. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I weary and pale-looking. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "In answer to an advertisement." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the closing the door. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which use an arc-and-compass breastpin." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City on in his house." maid will bring up your coffee." the Assizes." has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a who was a member of your goose club." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. washing it down with a long draught of water. "'I am sure if I had known--' in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. someone who had been in Australia." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which this truth that in these little records of our cases which you cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all them, and came down just as you departed. fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good matter over." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor foresight and the moral retrogression?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not look upon these things in a different way." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "And is that all?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It to Leatherhead. details." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' situation." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." sound at heart." "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended long narrative. so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when trifles." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, any." experiences." "I see no marks." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Not in a good cause." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. constraint." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great over part of the map. "What do you read?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in was a perfect sample of the class. impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "And I to find an enemy." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's with you?" until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the