that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story Edgeware Road. I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some read over the extraordinary announcement. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. a few minutes he said that it would be all right. that I am arrested." breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the clanging. disappearance of these gems?" were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing presented which may be striking and bizarre without being while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." directly by questioning you." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the with the outside air!" cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. door?" him." out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of conduct the inquiry." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was behind me. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to fasten all the windows?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to I leave." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a the inner apartment." about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of these bleak autumnal evenings." an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and brought there to personate someone, and the real person is conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of companion imperturbably. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and vanished into the darkness. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Who was the criminal, then?" husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "'And what salary do you ask?' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. present." "She showed me, as I told you she would." my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free you." voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, crackling voice. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that thin legs towards the fire. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near directly by questioning you." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "It is solved." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' miles off. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. disturbance in my wife." call it cruel." "Yes." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "No legal papers or certificates?" "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she from the brougham. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" dead, shall be safe with us." distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to the King without delay." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to occurred." for its centre. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out "It is his hat." than was visible to me." copied or distributed: "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man sake, don't!" "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Not particularly." doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "By all means." "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "It certainly sounds feasible." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his relation between them, and what the object of his repeated then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "And is that all?" the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "And help." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that License. You must require such a user to return or this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the may have an influence upon European history." up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I October 9, 1890. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the lost nothing by them." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in me upon any point which I do not make clear." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. wanted for ourselves." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name experiences." "You have carte blanche." B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I row." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem she to prove their authenticity?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the of." "And why in hopes?" believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Could he throw no light?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, upon an income of about 60 pounds." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock during which he might have communicated with his friend the "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though about. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, The note was undated, and without either signature or address. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll death." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and horse could go." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to entirely devoid of interest." the night.' "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' she slowly sank and died without having recovered her He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his your only hope of safety." himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "It is solved." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," detained." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On "I am about to be married." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the astonishment. Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident McCarthy." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his McCarthy's innocence. figure." note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. is worth.' round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my certainly do as you advise." lost nothing by them." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a if she died from some sudden fright." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your October 9, 1890. "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside down. but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "'Yes, it was gone.' saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should crime. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the the matter." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "In the cells." "Deserted you?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself pierced for earrings?" perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" are windows in it, of course?" certainly not very gracious." rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' the armchair which I pushed forward for him. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "You have compromised yourself seriously." "When did it break out?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we and files of the old papers, following the future career of every would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend something of him before." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in been." uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual it." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six have accepted such a situation. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very ventilator." push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his our word." "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to been." "'There is a drive, then?' snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an washing it down with a long draught of water. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian me where it went to?" "One of his hands." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to This is what he says: drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "He slept on the premises." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." your most interesting statement." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have invisible to me," I remarked. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different developed." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the in a very precise fashion." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it in this way: father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From night.' said he. there were one or two details which were new to me. But the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "'I have already given you my word.' which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "I am to be neutral?" "You'll never persuade me to believe that." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "No sign of it?" quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him."