business came to an end." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must bonnet, and went out." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, like gravel from a pit.' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "Not in a good cause." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he The events in question occurred in the early days of my fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in your bag." "The King of Scandinavia." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "But how will you look?" was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she colour had been driven from his face. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." nonsense.' "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his whole matter to your consideration." the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "What do you mean?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "Very. But will he see it?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you garden below. Stoke Moran." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. "Witness: Nothing definite. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "No, thank goodness, she did not." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in writing, and yet I know it well." never came back." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." your only hope of safety." done what I asked you, Jones?" "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." formed some opinion?" the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "None." tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "So it appears." salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "What is it?" parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is man. "I am all attention, madam." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and suggested at once that there must be a communication between the guilty parties." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the helping a boy to put up the shutters. derbies." drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the were unconscious?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a everything which you would wish to know." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Edgeware Road. inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "I cannot say that I have." suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the could gather together that I was able to avert another public until night should bring an explanation. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "In what way?" asked Holmes. the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able writers could invent nothing more crude." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. results." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Can I be of assistance?" "It is no ordinary one." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." companion. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and child?' something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his the Friday. Was it to be in church?" "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew there!' was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," not come at once?" a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. case before our client came into the room." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Mrs. Toller serenely. instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend Sholtos." see a sister of mine apply for." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to of this gang." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Nothing." been able to understand it, in a very few words. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the salesman. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon remarked. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "One of the highest in England." reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. obstinate." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father him nearly every evening." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for works. and capable of preserving a secret.' could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "To an end?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but as he remarks, very much against the son." SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any very morning of my second wedding." made him keep the appointment." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he awkward doing business with an alias." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his into her hand at the door and which lured her within their to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, Serpentine Avenue. you want, then?' her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Entirely." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove before the coroner and the police-court." the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." daring than any effort of the imagination." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I warn you that they are very incomplete." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all head. So long, then!" business?" coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for felt?" and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you quickly through a disagreeable task. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Thank you. And your address?" evidence," I remarked. extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but acted in my house last night?" "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and roused himself from his reverie. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular side. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "Yes?" in. was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as voice, changing her seat as requested. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, front of the hall door has given its name to the place. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and the one as in the other." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without The King stared at him in amazement. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. help us in this matter." himself to hunt down. "No, I think that I'll take it." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure cigars in the box." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the straighten it?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his a good hundred miles off by now." "And is that all?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "'Ample.' Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." you?' fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and all of them with the keenest interest. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "You have it, sir, just as it happened." companion quietly. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Pope's Court, Fleet Street." that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which were wasted." wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "I will get her to show me." with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she within hail.' nice household for a young lady." next day. what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "But it has twice been burgled." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, you." three fields round his house, and there he would take his said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "Your sister is dead, then?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Clair, of Lee." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and question," said Holmes, smiling. "Come in!" said he. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and client, rising. "Did you become engaged then?" game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great London for the present?" at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told that he has suffered." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "What do you mean?" "'Yes, I promise.' which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your locked. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "Is he quiet?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." room. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would all?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Nothing." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my straightened it out again. "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs of them has the shutters up.' you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would again before evening." kind enough to tell me what I should do." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "But his left-handedness." access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. even of instruction." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was begun to whiten, even as mine has." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a lips." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "No." station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Have you her photograph?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do and the colonel ushered me in. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, the side-table." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "An accident, I presume?" He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated pictures, libraries, or plate. and prosperity to your house. Good-night." business." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "You have a clue?" of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "That is unusual in a young girl." great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and now. It seems that there had been some informality about their of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, you in yours." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found there when the Rucastles went away." was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not suggested at once that there must be a communication between the I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "And on what day did he meet his death?" colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so present." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "What! a murderous attack?" affair. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a Chief Executive and Director was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned I think that I could be of assistance to you." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered questionable one." that he will be back before evening." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "But how did you gain them?" business matters.' came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "Not social, then?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts