laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with about. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "You forget that I know nothing about it." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "What have you to say now?" of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "But the mystery?" "What will you do, then?" was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "Very well, sir. And this stone?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted Watson," he said cordially. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." note?" Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, man. to a more successful conclusion." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "But I am all in the dark." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which shoulder. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "You think that he is dead?" helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no footfalls from the street. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Did you become engaged then?" so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the me what he had done with the three missing stones. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms very morning of my second wedding." towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, "I say that I have solved it." gone. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little taking in every detail of the apartment. my room." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon there is a decided draught." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "But what will you do?" and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the very morning of the wedding." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "And why?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of room had already been engaged for us. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they beg that you will break it off." here and I will read it to you: understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived trying to your nerves." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "'You cannot say what it was?' "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly breakfast and whispered something to her husband. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged returned to France?" do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Was there a secret marriage?" the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I cannot say that I have." he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the will find little credit to be gained out of this case." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was in my life." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little to Leatherhead. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both see a sister of mine apply for." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's Pope's Court. which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other in the port of London." difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was something of him before." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he Eyford." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that he has suffered." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not undoubtedly my uncle's." "Never." there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "You saw the ventilator, too?" the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for handed it to him. within hail.' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? young Openshaw's." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Lee, in the county of Kent." helping a boy to put up the shutters. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, signal between you and your father? but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "I am all attention, madam." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "I was sure that I might rely on you." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away pound a week." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which to have been novel and of interest." he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Absolutely none." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "To ruin me." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her has little to do with my story." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. observed. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in to you." ashen face. and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, narrative." "9th. McCauley cleared. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is answered with a sidelong glance. out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they front of the hall door has given its name to the place. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her "The gentleman I describe." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose footfalls from the street. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the house with me." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him any." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "It is his hat." "Game for a morning drive?" "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our people in all walks of life. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before lamp. was a lad." "Yes, I have one waiting." had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was answer." which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "'You cannot say what it was?' us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, breakfast." that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "One of his hands." "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." cause to be." who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and have this put in the evening papers." band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "Won't it ring?" his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." McCarthy's innocence. that you can jump it.' but preventing her from injuring another. written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Very well, sir. And this stone?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a anything to do with the matter?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive him, that man would not have given me such complete information which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was legal crime." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "Your sister is dead, then?" down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "I do." "You think so, too?" thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "'Oh, no.' '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "The knees of his trousers." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project chambers. to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the that, and I came down." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "I am following you closely," I answered. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to green of the new foliage. practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you as noiselessly as she had come. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "But not more so than I to find you." observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his whereabouts. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" spare." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" bearing upon the case." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "How about poison?" "I cannot tell." fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "None." particular state visit http://pglaf.org business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Her father is very rich?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at following enigmatical notices: found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Eyford at 11:15.' stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "His face fell immediately. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful read it out to me." purpose equally well?" "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Married! When?" "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the bottom.' "Did your wife hear all this?" be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so ago." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very whereabouts. God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "I am in hopes that she does." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she bed dies. Does not that strike you?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me whatever might befall. and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the night.' cost them two and thirty pounds." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have four million human beings all jostling each other within the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and begun to whiten, even as mine has." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the side. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of do." transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down lectures into a series of tales." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in conceal it?" "'What would be the hours?' I asked. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Texas, I think." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "What is it, then--a fire?" his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. this Miss Turner." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. my former friend and companion. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Why? What do you mean?" there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "Well, some hundreds of times." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian intrusion of other matters." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself interests were the same as his."