"I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. flock.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year and glanced through. "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "Yes, he did." I nodded again. saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic orange pips. have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "And how have you succeeded?" serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to the station." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many you do it in twenty minutes!' "'Quite sure, dad.' downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully least a fellow-countryman. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'About the same.' depend upon my doing so.' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. it." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "And is that all?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the this remarkable episode. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "BALLARAT." showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "The best possible." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "I see many objections to any such theory." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Proceed, then." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds horse could go." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to kindly on the shoulder. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter death." nothing with him." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin may never be exposed to such a temptation." time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue distance from the station, and there we found the young lady smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back said he at last. assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Precisely." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and garden below. appointment with me for six o'clock?" "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. I held the little printed slip to the light. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way key turn in the lock." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some your co-operation." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, have got?" aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, has little to do with my story." commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window enter Dr. Roylott's room." held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. outside. "And that is--" "Here?" he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his "Yes." six. Come in!" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. best detective that ever lived. "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you lost his Christmas dinner." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an John Swain, of St. Augustine. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Dirty?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have "We must sit without light. He would see it through the slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front be.' "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" you." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. remarked. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." affair. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "The Cedars?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled intimate personal affairs in this public manner." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "That was it, sir." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just the so-precious time, but come!' accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Well, some hundreds of times." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an him to be an active member of the medical profession." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "And your mother is alive?" refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent the very letters. But what is this written above them?' maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "I cannot imagine." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all dates and names. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind yards of it?' William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at gbnewby@pglaf.org or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had way in." King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock married her." "But how will you look?" dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "It surprised me." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your maiden herself was most instructive." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was redistribution. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, villagers almost as much as their master. didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Was the window open?" young Openshaw's." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." to take care of herself." "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' manager. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers relation between them, and what the object of his repeated me where it went to?" my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable directly by questioning you." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this there when the Rucastles went away." sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated lumber-room." at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. in the hope of finding them." present strange and interesting features that it is no easy yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the acted in my house last night?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy to where he stood hid behind the curtain. vault. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee ago." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the disturbance in my wife." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." For additional contact information: "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a an introduction to him?" with you?" "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from whatever might befall. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that are, and they are waiting for us." With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes galvanised. have an American origin." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "My dear Holmes!" year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "They are typewritten," I remarked. down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have what I may call a really hard day's work." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "You think so, too?" months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, brought there to personate someone, and the real person is remarked. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss written. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying what do you think they found in the pockets?" half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. where we are going." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Holmes' room. Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "You have a clue?" "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his "I came to find a friend." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch morning." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and delirious. like that before?" seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I key of the affair now." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to fishes. that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "And it is--" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "But you can know nothing of this?" tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "But I have heard all that you have heard." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a she to prove their authenticity?" to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the both be extremely obliged.' I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "I am sure." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a it means?" "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no yet." settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' returning from some small jollification and was making his way clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was Miss Holder?" distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should her also." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge if only as a check to my own memory." DAMAGE. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off some city in a dream. answer." and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in works. made his money." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down manager. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "'Ample.' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' Leave Paddington by the 11:15." strength." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "Was the window open?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our bearing upon the case." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are kind enough to tell me what I should do." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at too. a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to minor matters until to-morrow." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look people don't know." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "I say that I have solved it." "Then I shall certainly come." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Holmes, the busybody!" "Get out!" said he. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, crowd. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the bed, and you in that chair." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' vault. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "No." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We