both be extremely obliged.' gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic have I gained?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. your billet.' in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Game for a morning drive?" "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not "In answer to an advertisement." breakfast?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "What do you mean?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal to miss it." memory. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." will be renamed. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Not yet." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the directors, with the result that you have seen." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will any little problem which you may submit to me." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "But to whom?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "How long did she speak to this Alice?" to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked crackling voice. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." your troubles." before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "'A dozen yards or so.' see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of when you have done it." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." gone. me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things back into the street. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to burst out into a roar of laughter. happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so signal between you and your father? for securing the situation." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "When did it break out?" "Who was the criminal, then?" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. one else, I think." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "But your client--" pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "Then I shall certainly come." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. exactly what you advise." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" several quiet little villages up there." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Yes, sir." will take you up to see the machine.' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, "There are none." he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "I should wish to." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few it right.' "Yes, the wine-cellar." his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the that threaten you." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and have been better. It is all right." now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what woman." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "'How far from the body?' struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Holmes. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his back alive. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm to surprise her." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." lost nothing by them." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable said I. "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his grasp, he hurried from the room. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "That is unusual in a young girl." as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Stolen, then." in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and disturbance in my wife." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "A call for help, you thought?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the acquaintance?" "That is also quite modern," said the lady. you give your casting vote to?" which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He enter Dr. Roylott's room." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she the best of training." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "He said too much." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he without a word or a look. "And on what day did he meet his death?" questioning and rather startled gaze. one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to swore that no one else had been in the front room during the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Not in the least." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some what these perils are?" my room." weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional crime." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high the child." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Well?" downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always memory. "Yes, they were peculiar boots." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "'What then?' I asked. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "So I heard. You have him here?" very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "'Certainly not.' It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "Frequently." you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "It certainly sounds feasible." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not indeed happy." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "That you are never beaten." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and foot. for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At the salesman. again." nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so particular state visit http://pglaf.org know all about it," he snarled. Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "How on earth--" through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "I cannot as yet see any connection." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will of this gang." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular weary and pale-looking. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "I am sure." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my lips." home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is were unconscious?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when tear off another piece?' innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country to me. took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway had died away into the silence from which it rose. lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very of this gang." "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, John Swain, of St. Augustine. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to the Red-headed League." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" 'I should be able to look after that for you.' instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three http://www.gutenberg.net "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "How do you know, then?" makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "Of what day?" however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, colour had been driven from his face. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up the running down." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "You horrify me!" her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger yet." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I dates and names. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Come in!" said Holmes. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "Thank you. Pray proceed." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little tassel actually lying upon the pillow. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must not interfere, come what may. You understand?" shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a come either from the window or the door. My attention was Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is very peculiar words of the dying woman?" I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "But she could not love him." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He guilty parties." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off pictures, libraries, or plate. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the and all of them with the keenest interest. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are that threaten you." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had said I. trifles." felt the room to be a little close.' sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from leaning back in his chair. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Then what has happened to him?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I Cross for the Continent." Mrs. Toller serenely. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" she to prove their authenticity?" quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "My stepfather's business papers." he bowed and left the room without another word. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have McCarthy." and inquire as to the address." "May I see it?" despair." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the window when the police appeared." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass closing the door. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the driver. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of