Stoke Moran." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. very old mansion. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, key of the affair now." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that of receipt of the work. "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "Stolen." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "Who was the criminal, then?" habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." young Openshaw's." "No, my brougham is waiting." the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly was a perfect sample of the class. "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "I warn you that they are very incomplete." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "'Certainly not. But why?' "From his hat?" delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I DISSOLVED. "No, my brougham is waiting." the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Proceed, then." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to have that photograph." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco must be when I saw the door open.' "Yes." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a someone who had been in Australia." Arthur Conan Doyle here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, that threaten you." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "In the cells." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "Not him." hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as Holmes." "But I am all in the dark." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the call you and give you the chance." Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced remarked. once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Holmes' room. "Eh? What was that?" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more suddenly upon us." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Was she in good spirits?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite foresight and the moral retrogression?" spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." look dissatisfied." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit said I. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H you." I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "I cannot imagine." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "And how did he make his money?" stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended disturbance in my wife." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I was mad--insane." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "Where, indeed?" which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is of the one which your family is now devouring." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of problems help me to do so." the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have and put his glass in his pocket. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous directors have had misgivings upon the subject." crime. very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was quite distinctive." possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "You were travelling in the States?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was retorted upon me, and I on you." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "What, then, did Peterson do?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became companion. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "'Yes, sir.' me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my there when the Rucastles went away." "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "I have my revolver," said I. been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Entirely." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, unprofitable." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, when you have done it." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my straightened it out again. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the ceiling. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that observed. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your wedding?" trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. noting anything else of interest. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and cigars in the box." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "Do you receive much company?" he asked. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it very morning of my second wedding." and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side good for you to do.' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "Awake, Watson?" he asked. out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "Never to return." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in stalked out of the room. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "But to whom?" and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly some water from a caraffe. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, said I. a monotonous occupation." at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about believe that I should never have any practice at all. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" his eyes and forehead. village inn over there?" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a "And I." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this IS which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "You are hungry," I remarked. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But out." violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback wedding?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at know what is wrong with it.' contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's "Was she in good spirits?" encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more quite distinctive." It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, thought that she would have been so carried away." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would I leave." Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried and wait." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural business?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." The King stared at him in amazement. that?' The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the place of silver." it." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in key of the affair now." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Then I do not see the point." "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and the very morning of the wedding." backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "I have my revolver," said I. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an our word." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "Nearly eleven." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "Perhaps I have." grasp, he hurried from the room. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I stalked out of the room. houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a quickly through a disagreeable task. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "I think that it is very probable." disappearance of these gems?" a suggestive one." such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "Of Friday, June 19th." shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" DAMAGE. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was come either from the window or the door. My attention was "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of which it had come upon my father." address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "'You cannot say what it was?' as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very back to my heart. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which works. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you stalked out of the room. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off considering the formidable letters which were received by himself deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of what I may call a really hard day's work." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Pray continue your narrative." few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who held up the lantern and gazed about him. observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded giving me time to thank him. "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "Awake, Watson?" he asked. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & fashion which was peculiar to him. some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't pressing in one house as in another. "And did you observe any change in her then?" as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is me." "How did that help you?" eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "No. What a strange idea!" in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his was lame." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I situation." nonsense.' he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "Pray let us have it, for all that." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is "Then I shall certainly come." boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "But how did you gain them?" put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." fatally injured? spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" go--none." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Not him." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in least a fellow-countryman. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! rose-bushes. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." interests were the same as his." fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came examine." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." be.' "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be one else, I think." stepfather?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the chance." and shall probably return to London by the evening train." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "I think that it is very probable." "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that,