protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the purpose of examination. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "'Yes, sir.' had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said of your young ladies.' "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather not fit the lock." other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door the best of training." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction I. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Precisely." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which memory. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a will take you up to see the machine.' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "No, thank goodness, she did not." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, arrangements." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Yes, that is the Crown." a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall bed dies. Does not that strike you?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes relation between them, and what the object of his repeated fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." upon the white wrist. through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "What?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," horse could go." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became extraordinary contortions. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin other, as fresh and trim as possible. unprecedented a position." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who Holmes." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Pray continue your narrative." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "And the murderer?" "'And the work?' "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King any little problem which you may submit to me." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and fled together." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for six. Come in!" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "You saw the ventilator, too?" listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." matter." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see became a certainty. here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and Sutherland. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His photograph?" have I gained?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming official police." and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to that?' said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "But who is he?" at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "And help." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Here?" The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were I. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we lamp in his hand. until night should bring an explanation. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "No, finished." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "Not him." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Of Friday, June 19th." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "Only as much as we can deduce." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "To an end?" from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a crime." offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I do." "'You cannot say what it was?' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, any more." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old digesting their breakfasts at home." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, you, my dear young lady?' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our the coronet in his hands?" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to you came in." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then client, rising. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no both be extremely obliged.' present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical closing the door. much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." lumber-room." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm characteristics, but those are the more obvious." perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was seem to you to be relevant or not." "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice Street. will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "And leave your case unfinished?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, something of him before." legal crime." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at never to learn it at all." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "'Certainly,' I answered. you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "'Yes, sir.' quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the distinguish the words: it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices observed. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for his wife has ceased to love him." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held has little to do with my story." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, eat it." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "Nearly eleven." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, which our visitor detailed to us. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "Absolutely none." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my during which he might have communicated with his friend the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. straighten it?" with her." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "I cannot think." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a Count Von Kramm." breakfast." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't main points of my analysis." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But The telegram which we eventually received came late one night therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," "Come in!" said Holmes. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to hand, madam?" legal crime." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle in darkness. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business are, I think, all that we need." most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." entirely lost his self-respect." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the of his shoulders. "I am still in the dark." your most interesting statement." of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I nothing of it?" a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet young Openshaw's." husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent into the room. violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I promise," said Holmes. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "And from a noble client?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and one of them." the Assizes." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, to a light-house. any more." could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "Yes, certainly." young Openshaw's." them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town gone. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold quickly through a disagreeable task. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted imbecility!" he cried. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your know what is wrong with it.' off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "Where, then?" shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which galvanised. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his before the coroner and the police-court." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to and prosperity to your house. Good-night." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I have my revolver," said I. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "And Irene Adler?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be shall use the carriage to-night." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "It certainly sounds feasible." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for "Can I be of assistance?" daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled your billet.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, official police." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "No." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my astonishment. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "It is his hat." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Yes, certainly." "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only dear old homesteads?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, likely to be some crony of the landlady's." all that?" little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very Where does the thing come from?' separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "I guessed as much." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I straightened it out again. "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he