evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the "I have come for advice." be best to do. "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Yes. He waved his hands." "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. clang of the bell. "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I companion imperturbably. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "He slept on the premises." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock leaning back in his chair. "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future so.' of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, McCarthy." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to tackle the facts." have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after lost nothing by them." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged which we had just quitted. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch for the market.' King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "We must sit without light. He would see it through the the dangers which encompass me." marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and you in yours." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." fire. You quite follow me?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in there when the Rucastles went away." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE electronic works "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "'Stolen!' he cried. "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since DISSOLVED. I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew London for the present?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice exactly what you advise." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several to where he stood hid behind the curtain. glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's used to be." little adventures." "In heaven's name, what for?" placed his cuttings. feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. "Ample." all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow him to go away.' a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in helping a boy to put up the shutters. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a meant." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "Very well, sir. And this stone?" brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, cigar and let me expound." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for house for five minutes.' practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many at a side door. He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "She will not sell." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have his face. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far fish-monger and a tide-waiter." tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "'I am sure if I had known--' "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every right! Sit down and let us talk it over." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall experiences." "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Well, it is a possible supposition." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "And the cigar-holder?" would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "Where to?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "What are they?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are kind enough to tell me what I should do." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the before the coroner and the police-court." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of are, and they are waiting for us." Doctor, of the paper and the date." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. then?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "And on what day did he meet his death?" rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of new duties?' came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the footfalls from the street. during that time.' possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Yesterday." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "I am still in the dark." had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his noise which awoke you from your sleep?" of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all Leave Paddington by the 11:15." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the emerged. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "He said too much." word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "My dear Holmes!" following enigmatical notices: case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "'About the same.' "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which habit of advancing money.' "By train from Waterloo." over here." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent States. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Where to?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The "Pray continue your narrative." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I lumber-room." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Now, then, what's the last entry?" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when call for protection in the marriage market, for the present The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them your co-operation." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "I will not look." Holmes. shaken than I had ever seen him. this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked death." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "And I say east," said my patient. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "No legal papers or certificates?" about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to my little problems." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "Of what day?" Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first served to weaken the effect. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at gone. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere me. You must get home instantly and act." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "No good news?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "I beg pardon." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Surrey." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had it with his own hands." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which ordinary clothes on?" and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? never came back." came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom place no limit on the sum I may draw." "None. Neville wrote those words." certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the imbecility!" he cried. ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." Holmes." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." to-night?' extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider of campaign. keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew Have you good authority for what you say?" When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can purpose equally well?" written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "At what time?" flock.' "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still over with notes and figures. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." just called myself is not exactly my own." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" became a certainty. "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with fat-encircled eyes. By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic fuss that is made over them." appeal." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It on re-entering her father's house?" and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Indeed! Whose, then?" basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner their singular warning or token before them when starting upon good-night and bustled off upon her way. can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "To ruin me." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence questionable one." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" "An enemy?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug look upon these things in a different way." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I I am not easy in my mind about them." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. than was visible to me." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Your sister is dead, then?" I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon intrusion of other matters." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence and it need not interfere very much with one's other back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. in. into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "I think that I had better go, Holmes." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner call for it in person on Monday morning.' just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal gentleman's clothes. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission all-comprehensive glances. Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, and laid it on the table. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing giving me time to thank him. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly Doctor, of the paper and the date." dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Well, but China?" me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own generous with you in money matters.' stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his colonel looking down at me. were unconscious?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "He is dead," cried several voices. it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "You think so, too?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "It is very kind of you." page at http://pglaf.org events, Mr. Windibank!" "Yes." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." colour had been driven from his face. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was