possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his "'There is a drive, then?' his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet newspaper selections." head. So long, then!" imbecility!" he cried. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a then?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie awkward doing business with an alias." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "Well, some hundreds of times." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed leave you to your papers for a little." piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, of fine shops and stately business premises that they really For additional contact information: the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the "What do you mean?" "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "An enemy?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "'And the work?' copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "You have carte blanche." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and interested in these little problems, and since you are good devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been "But what is it you wish?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Yes, but only for you and me." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Young McCarthy must be got off, however." she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I better in every way that they should make their position a little Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "What of the rat, then?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This himself to tell his story. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "'Most admirably.' education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Yes, all." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a you?' with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that himself in a perplexing position. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated opportunities to fix the problem. or other trace. But how on earth--" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "'You doubt its value?' he asked. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "No." them, and came down just as you departed. was already answered. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "On Monday." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better fasten all the windows?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, directors, with the result that you have seen." society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which have got?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "Won't it ring?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the row." Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom presented which may be striking and bizarre without being in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "I warn you that they are very incomplete." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was a good hundred miles off by now." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "VIOLET HUNTER." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet it." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am himself to hunt down. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you my former friend and companion. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" the best of training." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. have an American origin." scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "It is no ordinary one." for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular a very grave face. wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual examine." "Ah!" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. character. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The cigars in their mouths. "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is direction." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. answer." "Yes." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive "Yes, I have one waiting." would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "Yes." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out it." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I cannot think." down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "You horrify me." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in opened the door, and slipped through. the station." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "I am about to be married." "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "Ten will be early enough." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the very morning of the wedding." fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would papers on the sundial.'" sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes father's place of business?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "The Coroner: What do you mean? with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "Perhaps we may make them less so." monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, to that open window." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "Deserted you?" "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I matter over." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Will you go?" have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a absorbing." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and charged with?" his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked him, that man would not have given me such complete information brain must have something in it." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you information in his hands the value of which he did not himself had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." over part of the map. "What do you read?" stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it The police have openly confessed that they can at present make bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Heh?' brain must have something in it." kindly on the shoulder. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very fasten all the windows?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a this man was intellectual?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For here and I will read it to you: Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "I cannot imagine." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and annoyance, but no jest. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "From his hat?" Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. British peeress.'" young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more never came back." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered populous neighbourhood." entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One horse could go." to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Imitated." will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Stoke Moran?" said he. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "Then, how do you know?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera there was no need for father to know." near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp things are very often connected not with the larger but with the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the like that before?" "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. with frightened eyes at his accuser. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so clanging. cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his the iron safe, which he closed upon it. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "The King of Scandinavia." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, my secret was safe in his possession. "What are they?" investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my this truth that in these little records of our cases which you in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Yes." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there lamp. prison!" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up together. at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a "Witness: I must still refuse. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Texas, I think." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely Leadenhall Street--and--" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be "How do you know, then?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "In San Francisco, a year ago." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The It was close upon four before the door opened, and a swore that no one else had been in the front room during the stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it when your master had gone out." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "What?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to visitors." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that little trying to do so much typewriting?" but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "Dark enough and sinister enough." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "Where to?"