the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that go--none." John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking than to us. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land amused." "And did you observe any change in her then?" flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad breakfast?" mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is we went to search for him, face downward in a little what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a "Then I can wait in the next room." endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "What, then, did Peterson do?" shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "He might." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "Entirely." "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the meant it for the best. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel here and I will read it to you: "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. Munro.' clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." walking." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as is," said he presently: blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in "I cannot tell." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two one or two very singular points about this room. For example, what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it detective. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless shoulder; "he's all right." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than one which it was hard to resist. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of "'Stolen!' he cried. "When did it break out?" room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the address that was given us in the advertisement. "I will, Miss Turner." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Where to?" already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily good for you to do.' "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Of Friday, June 19th." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." Holmes' face clouded over. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. recall any case within my experience which looked at the first "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "And how did you verify them?" with some details as to your case." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "But who is he?" it." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was society." interested in these little problems, and since you are good a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking useful material for showing traces. The double line a little again before evening." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "At the wedding breakfast." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "No." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "An enemy?" mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you case-book, which he consulted. All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "But she will refuse." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She present." put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "'A dozen yards or so.' than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to were wasted." two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' criminal. We have already had experience of such." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same vanished into the darkness. cost them two and thirty pounds." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over silent! Oh, he will be silent!' hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he in darkness. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few enter into my head. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might But Holmes shook his head gravely. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if "Then, how do you know?" crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black again, where I was soon asleep. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "What shall I do?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "No." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to you." I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I cannot think." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Entirely." prepare for the new role I have to play." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more away in different directions, and I went off to make my own dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than into her hand at the door and which lured her within their 1.E.9. "We must have a cab." once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been himself in a perplexing position. "Then what has happened to him?" north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you present." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people villagers almost as much as their master. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Pray tell us what has happened to you." His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. despaired of." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes is a common subject for conversation. "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Nothing." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. his fortune, and I went back to pa. soul! here is her carriage at the door." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper said he at last. that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice foot. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just some city in a dream. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it mystery may be cleared along those lines." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, politicians who had been sent down from the North. Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" him and tried to hold him back. Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you even so self-evident a thing as that." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you mysterious end." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. writers could invent nothing more crude." work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "And how have you succeeded?" leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that drove away. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It during which he might have communicated with his friend the Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into you give your casting vote to?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the unclasping of his long thin hands. "Is he quiet?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's asked. The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Witness: Nothing definite. which I could not give. He asked for Alice. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." his cane at the bell-pull. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in business came to an end." "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which anything to a woman, for she would have her way." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical indeed which he could not unravel. matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the in a very precise fashion." a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon gone. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "At half-wages, in fact." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "And the murderer?" considering the formidable letters which were received by himself up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin States. there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out know what is wrong with it.' have been better. It is all right." carpenter." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me in a very precise fashion." know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "A greater distance to travel." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk discontent upon his features. "My dear Holmes!" "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on presented more singular features than that which was associated any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most British peeress.'" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to questionable one." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "That is not always so easy." burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which did not hear it also.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "What will you say?" From what you have told me I think that it is possible that should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped situation." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "No, thank goodness, she did not." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of this gang." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that I may have something better before very many minutes are "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any has little to do with my story." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "'Yes, it was gone.' Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "On your arm?" rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in himself. us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "'What then?' I asked. "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he himself to tell his story. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a considering the formidable letters which were received by himself even of instruction." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has "But I have heard all that you have heard." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the