Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Yes. He waved his hands." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." hurried by. "She walked into the breakfast-room." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was rose-bushes. up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had redistribution. Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "I would pay ten." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire absolutely follow my advice in every respect." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were is acting for the best. paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From he died? "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have and inquire as to the address." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to DISSOLVED. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Edgeware Road. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the quickly through a disagreeable task. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to narrative." all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "This concluded the examination of the witness." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham "The landlord of the Alpha." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. he. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to have not had my rubber." "You forget that I know nothing about it." wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens such person." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He them?" bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step allusion to a rat. individual and becomes the badge of a society." "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He crowd. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the carried out of court." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was what I may call a really hard day's work." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Which dealer's?' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Upon what point?" "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you do you make of it all?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" you came in." The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "Yes, I have one waiting." coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going think, you have already met." of his shoulders. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "Where, indeed?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "Quite so." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in train from Paddington which would bring you there at about which should have the effect of calling the attention of the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means McCarthy." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he gigantic client. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination skylight. "'Yes, sir.' McCarthy." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind What do you deduce from it?" "No legal papers or certificates?" has little to do with my story." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you could not account in any way for the presence of the missing Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the events, Mr. Windibank!" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her has little to do with my story." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "'Then let me do so?' its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to this truth that in these little records of our cases which you singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing eat it." introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "I should be immensely obliged to you." papers." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. I shall continue with my miserable story. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite to where he stood hid behind the curtain. ashen face. In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "The knees of his trousers." "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret this unhappy family?" "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post written. contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a it means?" "What!" he roared. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who such person." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I Eyford at 11:15.' "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit nonsense.' "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen than to us. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank call for it in person on Monday morning.' Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a may have an influence upon European history." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "That is it on the dressing-table." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would writing, and yet I know it well." search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean to have been novel and of interest." respectable self." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "No. His orders were to stay in the house." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in miles off. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the posted to-day." "I see many objections to any such theory." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "It is to him that this trophy belongs." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, noble correspondent could be. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is I nodded again. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "That is not always so easy." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two not personally threatened." Where does the thing come from?' brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared bird of prey. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "Very much so." met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he questionable one." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit overpowering excitement and concern. "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said could not account in any way for the presence of the missing and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother you." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From door?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge very peculiar words of the dying woman?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that house for five minutes.' "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" felt?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the such person." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Awake, Watson?" he asked. to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she she to prove their authenticity?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the do you make of it all?" said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. wife's character?" his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Yes, at the mines." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "'Certainly not. But why?' "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "It is very clear." case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" time." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and "She will not sell." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the hour?' specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "'Is purely nominal.' Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and outsides of the windows. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to if she died from some sudden fright." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural way in everything. "Yes, sir." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "But we can't all be." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "I am to be neutral?" For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "And how did you verify them?" and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly it were putty." suspect him." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "'I have already given you my word.' "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "None." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming himself to tell his story. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "I say it is." it." through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but better in every way that they should make their position a little looking up at the numbers of the houses." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "A confidential servant?" crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her over here." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other him and tried to hold him back. unprecedented a position." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Yes, the wine-cellar." "At the wedding breakfast." "10th. John Swain cleared. mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "'Certainly not. But why?' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, begin with, and I had not got mine yet." for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss business came to an end." circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir generous with you in money matters.' following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a most important business. It is probable that he will be away all The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some with frightened eyes at his accuser. c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat hard-headed British jury." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. shoulder. clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. trifles." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with photograph?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you but preventing her from injuring another. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the