cheerful." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, carriage. It was a chestnut." know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon business in the City. She little knew what. He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I think that it is very probable." there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "Then the page we have seen--" "And the murderer?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had Holmes' thin, eager face. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather character. "Where is it, then?" "I cannot think." "I will not look." strength." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. him to be an active member of the medical profession." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. "Certainly." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat gentleman's clothes. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would "It was a confession," I ejaculated. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my never came back." of receipt of the work. "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "No." however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that to talk it over. without a word or a look. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one woven round him. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It was used.' carpenter." rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was conduct the inquiry." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." Pope's Court. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "That is unusual in a young girl." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, washing it down with a long draught of water. style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "Was your sister dressed?" "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that guilty parties." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Precisely." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining congratulate you again." and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a manager. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face think, you have already met." tell me that you intended to go into harness." "Game for a morning drive?" giving me time to thank him. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, to-night." "What!" he roared. adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with coroner's jury." note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be James Windibank. Voilà tout!" road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "'I shall certainly be there.' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "That you are never beaten." chance." "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who future lives." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence galvanised. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. which it had come upon my father." narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "About a month then." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very conclusions. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "But how?" and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing father's young wife. south, for the country is more deserted there." stepfather?" he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of him nearly every evening." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "And how?" theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From and your relations to her." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Well, it is a possible supposition." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Proceed, then." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" of them has the shutters up.' "Dirty?" in him." "Deserted you?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the Mary, has deserted me." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "What of the rat, then?" violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, unclasping of his long thin hands. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and washing it down with a long draught of water. a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." of it with the greatest attention. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Absolutely?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my page at http://pglaf.org "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "You are all wrong." their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "And how have you succeeded?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, used to be." too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." written, and locked the door of the office after me. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I see many objections to any such theory." utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this already referred to. had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with I shall continue with my miserable story. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," was not a bird to be seen there. another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief and the colonel ushered me in. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black main points of my analysis." flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Will you bet, then?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little States. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from writer." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, McCarthy's innocence. shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Surrey." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little could not have written that. It is the German who is so to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "There is the writing." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "At the wedding breakfast." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, infinite languor in his face. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "It missed him, then?" another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been will not take me long to tell. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low arrangements." "What do you mean?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were one of the states of the Union." impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had this poor creature." discontent upon his features. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the particular state visit http://pglaf.org you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "'Ten to two.' him!" begin with, and I had not got mine yet." tail." the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but straightened it out again. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at hard-headed British jury." iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a our word." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "It is possible." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in mystery." "I cannot think." down in his armchair and closing his eyes. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "No, thank goodness, she did not." "No, I think that I'll take it." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "That's no good." peculiar to him. weapon." other, as fresh and trim as possible. reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "At what time?" of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is system of imprisonment?" do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She had a long day." will he say when he returns?" your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very the ceiling. "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. rose-bushes. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the During two years I have had three consultations and one small "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had of your young ladies.' "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards see a sister of mine apply for." had a long day." "'I am sure if I had known--' delighted to hear it," he said. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "Yesterday." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at "How did you trace it, then?" any more." arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, which was all perfectly true. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "Not yet." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Yes." know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had over his head with a sweet womanly caress. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the tragedy. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "Yes." rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned to arrive at through this?" Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll where she found matters as described by the last witness. a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but tell him that I know him to be innocent." one's self under obligations.' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "What then?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Who was the criminal, then?" better in every way that they should make their position a little me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence national property. I was determined that the law should have its and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, paper in the air. are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not young Openshaw's." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend crime. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had possible that we could bring him back to her? for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own clang of the bell. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in details should find their way into the papers. Inspector paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I assure you that I am in your hands." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There singular points about the case. What did the police think of the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a one's self under obligations.' opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "I say it is." "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot know that the truth is known." which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another matter over." come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which deduce something from that?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a