"Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps back alive. in the hope of finding them." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "You have but to name it." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day waste of energy." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it point in the dark hollow of his hand. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Not yet." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Her father is very rich?" "No legal papers or certificates?" and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE absolutely follow my advice in every respect." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with emerged. opportunities to fix the problem. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project invisible to me," I remarked. after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his have not had my rubber." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "By no means." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm mystery may be cleared along those lines." one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "Absolutely?" a suggestive one." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "It must be recovered." in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "Was the window open?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "'You cannot say what it was?' shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. you give your casting vote to?" could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should the roots. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary anything to do with the matter?" "What of the rat, then?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "What?" remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "And help." Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Well." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "It's nothing of the kind." "Yes, sir." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, nonsense.' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Not I." never will be, entirely cleared up. "And you don't know his address?" about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, down. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Munro.' I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." Miss Holder?" to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue useful material for showing traces. The double line a little all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "None. Neville wrote those words." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" gbnewby@pglaf.org is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "My dear Holmes!" "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in to affect your life." just called myself is not exactly my own." entirely lost his self-respect." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others that "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "In which, sir?" "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have meanly of me." in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" business matters.' politicians who had been sent down from the North. "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by have I gained?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at happened." hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She is entirely a question of barometric pressure." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Well, but China?" Chief Executive and Director "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "I have a cab outside." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He particular state visit http://pglaf.org permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "You have compromised yourself seriously." "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "What!" he roared. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a ceremony." "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the coronet in his hands?" works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain memory. morning." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that one else, I think." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case over part of the map. "What do you read?" known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the is so. I know all about McCarthy." discontent upon his features. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the think, you have already met." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "'Yes, sir.' so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a miles off. compunction about shooting them down." and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "But we can't all be." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly became a certainty. "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a following enigmatical notices: and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and capable of preserving a secret.' "Yes." "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? views." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of question. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Witness: Nothing definite. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "What, then, did Peterson do?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to there when the Rucastles went away." away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment are, and they are waiting for us." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a served to weaken the effect. "And why in hopes?" dead, shall be safe with us." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a begin with, and I had not got mine yet." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might disturbance in my wife." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in fashion which was peculiar to him. "'Is 4 pounds a week.' at home. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "Do you go out much in society?" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send that you can jump it.' bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "Entirely." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "None." even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning in the hope of finding them." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of characteristics, but those are the more obvious." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "'As governess?' interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "But to whom?" "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with yards of it?' it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method the coroner come to?" "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. hardly wander." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." danger is over." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning closely." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "But what will you do?" agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a round with crates and massive boxes. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." roused himself from his reverie. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course been lifted and conveyed somewhere." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep pierced for earrings?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that will take you up to see the machine.' "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "Very murderous indeed." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really "Yes." At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Married! When?" have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" of receipt of the work. the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to and put his glass in his pocket. your sleep?' it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it had a long day." "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." "'What, the red-headed man?' other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would Edgeware Road. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "My photograph." "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "Yes, it was twisted." Pope's Court, Fleet Street." hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Witness: Nothing definite. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after of Mr. Rucastle's." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed constraint." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most 1.F. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The what is your own theory as to what took place?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. you." "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His your own bird, so if you wish--" which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil suspect him." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Yes, that is the Crown." salesman. fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Never." lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "I will, Miss Turner." not within a twentieth part of the market price." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "You think that he is dead?" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" quickly through a disagreeable task. "Certainly." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless he. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Eyford." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "'It is locked up,' I answered. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for friends, not even his own brother. stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I will get her to show me." up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. and that he would see to anything that turned up. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram breakfast?" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "What office?" hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend 1.A. 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