"He said too much." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "But how?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the their singular warning or token before them when starting upon page at http://pglaf.org handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the King without delay." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated some terrible trap for her." Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, in him." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind clang of the bell. even so self-evident a thing as that." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned unprecedented a position." "But I am all in the dark." apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, him!" and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point ventilator." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are events, Mr. Windibank!" to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "Eh? What was that?" convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "She showed me, as I told you she would." truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he shaken than I had ever seen him. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "Why did you pick him?" friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter grasp, he hurried from the room. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough noting anything else of interest. with her." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little said Mr. Holder. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A which should have the effect of calling the attention of the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom girl said." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his morning." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' cup of tea. without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and shaken than I had ever seen him. "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it crime. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and ventilator." time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Get out!" said he. recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." off." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook official police." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue garden below. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "Why, it's a dummy," said he. his forehead." hereditary King of Bohemia." society." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was "But your client--" "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who towards the blaze. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the tell me that you intended to go into harness." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Absolutely?" Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "What shall I do?" at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather once more to my work. sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and tension within him. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time License. You must require such a user to return or certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "I would pay ten." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my for and were ordered to this address. It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in on re-entering her father's house?" pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? Pool. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. legal crime." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon remarked. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "The knees of his trousers." the coronet in his hands?" more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story voice, changing her seat as requested. "What is it?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the entirely devoid of interest." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "But who is he?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the there is a decided draught." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." "Thank you. And your address?" "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, heavily into it. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "The decline of his fortunes, then?" behind me. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." is so. I know all about McCarthy." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "I am in hopes that she does." those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just questionable one." among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large his eyes and forehead. observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the best of training." it right.' pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the entirely devoid of interest." Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put it? Did I buy the geese off you?" was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted was used.' the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Come in!" said Holmes. 1.E.9. dear old homesteads?" but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Come in!" said he. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of article?" and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" the nursery. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them your own bird, so if you wish--" "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea impression behind it as though a window had gently closed union?" hands. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I bill, which interests me deeply." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. Farm upon the left." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis information in his hands the value of which he did not himself my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "That's no good." "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very became a certainty. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, into the bag, and made for the door. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I his knees, staring into the fire. we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, business at Coburg Square is serious." owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed Serpentine Avenue. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand sofa. This way, please!" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room the one as in the other." and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "But to whom?" "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, giving me time to thank him. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Arthur Conan Doyle ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "And why?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have so far?" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers go back?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight within hail.' your Highness to the police-station?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "'A dozen yards or so.' reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," of the vacancies.' home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near there." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "It is true that I have been generally successful." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I friend's singular character. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. enough to aid us in our search." jewels which you have stolen?' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and "I am armed." copied or distributed: way in everything. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of chambers. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue look dissatisfied." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the address that was given us in the advertisement. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down had died away into the silence from which it rose. "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, his knees, staring into the fire. "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "That also I could fathom." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'And the work?' you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. main points of my analysis." "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "You are certainly joking, Holmes." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Lestrade of Scotland Yard." save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed sparkled upon his finger. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "I have my revolver," said I. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "Yes, that is the Crown." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "How did you deduce the select?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "When did she vanish, then?" "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "'You cannot say what it was?' did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any not, dad?" she asked. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we threw himself down with his face to the pillow. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and said I. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment papers must be those that are destroyed.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "'Ample.' woman who has had her own way to make in the world. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that