than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "What shall I do?" "Then the page we have seen--" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the his face which made him a very different person to the round, "I see no marks." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every been with you?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the King without delay." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought "You know me, then?" to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a to miss it." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you good for you to do.' "What?" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "The landlord of the Alpha." of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' Dr. Gregory B. Newby I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Yes." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted things are very often connected not with the larger but with the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. strange features which were associated with the two crimes which takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of in darkness. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, village inn over there?" "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that whether it answered to the description of any of their vague figure huddled up in the darkness. swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the awaited us upon the table. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I anything to a woman, for she would have her way." better in every way that they should make their position a little "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had not fit the lock." have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at already referred to. yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Chief Executive and Director the bed, and you in that chair." relief. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his anything to a woman, for she would have her way." you in yours." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an and put his glass in his pocket. go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried friends, not even his own brother. any." return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and certainly not very gracious." be there in time for your coming." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, your own bird, so if you wish--" Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes felt?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "But you can know nothing of this?" the bed, and you in that chair." "Pray do so." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my once more on the important position which you have been fortunate you." "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "'About the same.' until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be use an arc-and-compass breastpin." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked about here speaks of his kindness to him." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "And for present expenses?" weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "Yes." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of whatever might befall. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'I am sure that I do not know.' "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less is now desirous of getting those letters back." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his vague figure huddled up in the darkness. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite system of imprisonment?" along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "Was she in good spirits?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "'Certainly not.' "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his directors, with the result that you have seen." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the upon the white wrist. I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "So I am. Very much so." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "Of what day?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever and your relations to her." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a I shall continue with my miserable story. upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "No?" delirious. Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, voice, changing her seat as requested. firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to important." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most point in the dark hollow of his hand. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in nonsense.' "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Holmes, the busybody!" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Deserted you?" "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal particular state visit http://pglaf.org Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that there is a decided draught." "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Certainly." All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "'Ten to two.' monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then other means.' you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a kind enough to tell me what I should do." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was again." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. electronic works this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the question you as to those details which seem to me to be most provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, such person." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which there were so many in the whole country as were brought together number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. this Miss Turner." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in tapping his fingers upon the table. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Witness: It was. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of side. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen were unconscious?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "And how did you verify them?" Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." what is your own theory as to what took place?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will invisible to me," I remarked. so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to comes from the middle window." breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "Nothing." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my way in." we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Was he the only applicant?" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, business at Coburg Square is serious." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and forebodings. "It is possible." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "And you can do nothing until then?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "It surprised me." left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "How did he come?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "You have the photograph?" "'Certainly not.' "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the that I may have something better before very many minutes are Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was very old mansion. "I am to be neutral?" savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving his eyes and forehead. The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story at once, for I have only half an hour." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. the coroner come to?" the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a burst out into a roar of laughter. "Well, but China?" "Why, what do you mean?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come License. You must require such a user to return or In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "And what did you learn from him?" Countess of Morcar's?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott heavily into it. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon awaited us upon the table. "In heaven's name, what for?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for begun to whiten, even as mine has." finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "That is unusual in a young girl." wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "A call for help, you thought?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an room had already been engaged for us. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "He is dead," cried several voices. the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. of them has the shutters up.' was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, from you?" observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "'I am sure if I had known--' think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "No. His orders were to stay in the house." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The shoulder. "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "Yes." to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "They are typewritten," I remarked. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found coat-tails." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up it." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "'What are you doing there?' he asked. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw emerged. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." leave you to your papers for a little." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. as yours." to that open window." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "Because he was handy and would come cheap." me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable dead, shall be safe with us." cheerful." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." was lame." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows there when the Rucastles went away." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is guilty one." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so matter over." "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of other lovers by making love himself." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we "You did not overhear what they said?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, again on its way. at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment look upon these things in a different way." disturbance in my wife." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "'Where to?' furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been observed. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter soul! here is her carriage at the door." "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He