fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for so far?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "No sign of it?" understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for humiliation." rat could hardly pass through." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Your presence might be invaluable." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more Literary Archive Foundation the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to straighten it?" Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country The King stared at him in amazement. "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. you?" "But how will you look?" "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "I fear not." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Whose house is it?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, hard-headed British jury." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great any more." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a was used.' front of me. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole 1.F. "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "Very truly yours, "'I am sure that I do not know.' lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." when your master had gone out." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "And now?" I asked. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I see no marks." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Very much so." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and Sutherland?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Could he throw no light?" certainly do as you advise." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to new acquaintance to Baker Street. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "It is half-past ten now." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Always." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his memory. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." points to suicide?" do you make of it all?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away the very letters. But what is this written above them?' they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, do.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get you." passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the own family. occurred." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of "Then what has happened to him?" of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Two days later this same performance was gone through under aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish eavesdroppers?' "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have the nursery. "Pray let us have it, for all that." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, you." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "She told me to ask you." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "Game for a morning drive?" when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Not I." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "'What, the red-headed man?' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the Count Von Kramm." "Nearly eleven." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a these bleak autumnal evenings." shoulder. "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the them?" "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "You have carte blanche." sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us shoulder. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "The murder was done with it." turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my Sutherland?" ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Pool. that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace about here speaks of his kindness to him." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads suddenly upon us." Serpentine Avenue. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "But you were on a friendly footing?" was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. round and wave him away like that.' quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed You want to know what became of those geese?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, fled together." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "Why? What do you mean?" Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Did he not advertise?" "And help." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "Certainly." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "He is dead," cried several voices. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Here?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Yes, he did." bearing upon the case." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and chance at all." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty was it brought him the coronet? name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "What have you to say now?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "I came to find a friend." "What will you do, then?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Yes, certainly." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming DISSOLVED. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper with frightened eyes at his accuser. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in whatever might befall. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day that I am arrested." same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "And you don't know his address?" bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few floor. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the hereditary King of Bohemia." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both this as likely?" the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." seven miles from Eyford Station.' wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my that you can jump it.' without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you such person." official police." "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "How many? I don't know." Eyford at 11:15.' savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking himself. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think instituted." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, your only hope of safety." "No, distinctly professional." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. "I have my revolver," said I. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he License. You must require such a user to return or a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "The vanishing of the lady." side. I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and I shall be with you presently." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. better grown goose." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the use an arc-and-compass breastpin." as yours." no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in "He is still with you, I presume?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "You horrify me." in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint business at Coburg Square is serious." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any pound a week." dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "There is the writing." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the the coronet in his hand?" and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for them?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at works. See paragraph 1.E below. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said go from here to the Strand." known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "This photograph!" article?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very lumber-room." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would something of him before." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so Holmes rather sternly. "Have you it here?" highly," said Holmes. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped that the gas is not laid on in his house?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate this man was intellectual?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His quick march!" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which guilty one." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of chair. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the wall." days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "You have compromised yourself seriously." know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique particular state visit http://pglaf.org "And Miss Sutherland?" ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "No, but the enclosure is." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped and that he would see to anything that turned up. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "No more words. Get out!" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, did not hear it also.' The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater lost nothing by them." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did "How did you deduce the select?" "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, gigantic client. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "And why?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some call it cruel." knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the inquest, and which are worth considering." well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your