"I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's are, I think, all that we need." responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." coroner's jury." appeared upon the scene." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was question," said Holmes, smiling. we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 about. are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "Then I shall certainly come." "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Indeed! Whose, then?" exactly what you advise." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that His name is Francis Prosper." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different charge against him will break down." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance been able to understand it, in a very few words. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another woven round him. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Then you may be so with me." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "And when will you call?" "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. his forehead." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular noise which awoke you from your sleep?" down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the think that he is innocent?" "My private note-paper." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a "She walked into the breakfast-room." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my kindly on the shoulder. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of thin legs towards the fire. the matter?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime had a long day." years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." get the tickets." are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the "You are certainly joking, Holmes." public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I "He might." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. cost them two and thirty pounds." a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned you, my dear young lady?' there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was fait accompli?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a went to the Alpha were town bred." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what him, that man would not have given me such complete information facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a This is what he says: Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "That's no good." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a cigars in their mouths. be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." to miss it." the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely someone who had been in Australia." on re-entering her father's house?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was breakfast." presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and own family. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of bell. Holmes whistled. "Why did you beat the pavement?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to meant it for the best. "Very truly yours, bled considerably." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he from you?" shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." in his hands." dates and names. scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner served to weaken the effect. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "'And what are they worth?' I asked. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent carriage. It was a chestnut." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "Quite so." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I feature." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" think that he is innocent?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Dark enough and sinister enough." of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "My stepfather's business papers." you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for never will be, entirely cleared up. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only Edgeware Road. five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but fuss that is made over them." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and him and tried to hold him back. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass breakfast?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "By train from Waterloo." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in of the way of danger. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had matters immensely." happened." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between do." But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, detective. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "And why in hopes?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Yes, it would be as well." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our have one." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. becomes even more simple." but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get wall." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "That is possible." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. 1.F. With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the families. Now for the facts. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, at a side door. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell hardly wander." forebodings. glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and morning." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do of your young ladies.' "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start front of me. door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted when your master had gone out." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "What is it?" "When did she vanish, then?" actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's more terrible than the truth. back alive. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "An enemy?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me him." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique all?" "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and this as likely?" When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end remarked. could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn over with notes and figures. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter be. http://gutenberg.net/license). while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was several quiet little villages up there." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his leave you to your papers for a little." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Arthur Conan Doyle agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "But you can know nothing of this?" money should be paid at once.' firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary had this final quarrel? awkward doing business with an alias." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms mystery may be cleared along those lines." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the strength." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "My photograph." "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "Holmes, the busybody!" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "'Certainly not.' He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me on in his house." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of hopeless attempt at recovering them." "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good a little more before I quite committed myself. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. success. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella burst into a hearty fit of laughter. breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Absolutely none." august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to been with you?" sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is house for five minutes.' trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent chambers. showing my impatience. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by woven round him. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "'Yes, it was gone.' upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the imbecility!" he cried. appeared upon the scene." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its burst out into a roar of laughter. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of quite distinctive." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle public press." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at may never be exposed to such a temptation." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that new duties?' of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's to-night?" I asked. Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "'Very good.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round fatally injured? distinguish the words: "Won't it ring?" iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this strode off upon his way. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? Miss Holder?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has you." "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to tightly behind him. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "It is possible." "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "And that is--" "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of