One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a better in every way that they should make their position a little remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "They are typewritten," I remarked. lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and Countess of Morcar's?" morning." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a present." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Yes." weighed down with some great anxiety. Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Then he might have called to you?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." look dissatisfied." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands better in every way that they should make their position a little upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from all-comprehensive glances. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'Yes, I promise.' earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in where we are going." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; troubles have been weighing upon his mind. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "My dear Holmes!" chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only gbnewby@pglaf.org doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "But who is he?" strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over "'It is locked up,' I answered. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a know all about it," he snarled. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when II. into the room. "The Cedars?" the roots. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. your co-operation." "My private note-paper." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime you in your example." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or about. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, John Swain, of St. Augustine. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "It is no ordinary one." I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Munro.' I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Only as much as we can deduce." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made man. laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "At the wedding breakfast." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "What I expected to see." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Yes." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in the roots. when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "It is true that I have been generally successful." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event in his hands." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits like gravel from a pit.' grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew he. fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood be there in time for your coming." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they once more for Briony Lodge. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better be. outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs three fields round his house, and there he would take his south, for the country is more deserted there." Arthur Conan Doyle his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on at my remark. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "What then?" "It was." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head row." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." so.' what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious next day. "Dark enough and sinister enough." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white bachelor.' strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle himself to hunt down. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got pierced for earrings?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. paper in the air. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "Of what day?" there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "Married! When?" Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At States. which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much direction." papers must be those that are destroyed.' Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when mysterious business." when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough my little problems." I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, row." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such man. light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 so.' "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "I see many objections to any such theory." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in gentleman's clothes. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely of campaign. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said breakfast and whispered something to her husband. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Witness: It was. "'Where could I find him?' should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, McCarthy's innocence. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "ARAT," I read. question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a the tragedy. and the colonel ushered me in. Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just footfalls from the street. bird I ate is country bred." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "You saw the ventilator, too?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for had picked up in the wood. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Doctor, of the paper and the date." the running down." considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we from the brougham. copied or distributed: corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "VIOLET HUNTER." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the tragedy. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Why did you beat the pavement?" "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you direction." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It http://gutenberg.net/license). his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "Certainly." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" there is a decided draught." run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." or in danger--" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in respectable self." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one think that any burglar could have done. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "'What then?' I asked. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "But you were on a friendly footing?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own had formerly been in part my own. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." room?" great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. father's place of business?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how to that open window." "How do you know, then?" and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the your only hope of safety." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "But I have heard all that you have heard." "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love very old mansion. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might photograph?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, than to us. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence society." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in spare." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, standing smiling on the door-step. be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "And how did you verify them?" took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "But your client--" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through strong reason behind." took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "And what did you learn from him?" again on its way. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might careless servant girl?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my as the one I chose?' "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was writer." morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," companion. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before I. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We from you?" "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The manager. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of coat-tails." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage entirely devoid of interest." "Yes, it was twisted." get the tickets." if she died from some sudden fright." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "But the mystery?" Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that your room." "Dr. Becher's." enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind strength of mind to control. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "But you can know nothing of this?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes tear off another piece?' "An enemy?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective room. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Where to?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand when you have done it." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the bonnet, and went out." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Edgeware Road. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips the bottom.' possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two least a fellow-countryman. "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be three fields round his house, and there he would take his right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months the roots. John Swain, of St. Augustine. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no