in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'I am sure if I had known--' window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." than was visible to me." fluttered off among the others. "But what will you do?" "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "'What then?' I asked. The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case matters immensely." the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss hurried by. "You think so, too?" "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, death." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "Yes. He waved his hands." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a together. "Then he might have called to you?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did that I am arrested." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "What shall I do?" fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Not particularly." facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the washing it down with a long draught of water. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector will take you up to see the machine.' it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." of Fenchurch Street." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure depend upon your compliance." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, until night should bring an explanation. money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than ashen face. wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His outside." lost nothing by them." place of silver." believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "'I shall certainly be there.' at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a "A client, then?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." system of imprisonment?" "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you I nodded again. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may to where he stood hid behind the curtain. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "I answered that I had not. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some despair." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the showing my impatience. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to even so self-evident a thing as that." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Two days later this same performance was gone through under stammered. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "But I am all in the dark." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. "How do you know, then?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, may have an influence upon European history." it were putty." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a good for you to do.' said he. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the felt the room to be a little close.' "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen that, and I came down." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "I was afraid that you were engaged." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you that you wished to speak to me?' The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "A call for help, you thought?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my which are rolled in Rotterdam." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over bill, which interests me deeply." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Then how many are there?" agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his to Leatherhead. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "And how did you verify them?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small have been better. It is all right." "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been putting in the horse. with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net in the dead of the night?' been lifted and conveyed somewhere." themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. bonnet, and went out." was lame." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "Not social, then?" in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it showing my impatience. direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost you understand?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Never." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "Stoke Moran?" said he. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Oh, the cause is excellent!" he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. as this. Pray let me have the details." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a photograph a cabinet?" horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in at once, for I have only half an hour." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, fear." room had already been engaged for us. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Nothing." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical deduce something from that?" "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "I never have." "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was or in danger--" new duties?' could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at father's place of business?" carried out of court." of receipt of the work. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to awkward doing business with an alias." "At the wedding breakfast." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off posted to-day." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I think that any burglar could have done. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "Of what day?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray brain must have something in it." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. acted in my house last night?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian which we had just quitted. "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us standing smiling on the door-step. Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant might help us?" up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been as he folded up the epistle. the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated something of him before." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a a little more before I quite committed myself. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is likely to be some crony of the landlady's." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him read it out to me." But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'And the work?' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Deserted you?" brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all footfalls from the street. be.' daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long letters?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United the room while you explain this matter?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Have you it here?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman believe that I should never have any practice at all. his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "But we can't all be." that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock row." like that before?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "We must sit without light. He would see it through the despaired of." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "It is very kind of you." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you place of silver." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate success. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even at once, for I have only half an hour." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the bed, and you in that chair." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could business in the City. She little knew what. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know putting in the horse. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and writers could invent nothing more crude." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very walking." used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "There is the writing." question you as to those details which seem to me to be most authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal entirely devoid of interest." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with in a friendly supper." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "No." Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "'In my own bureau.' "'And what are they worth?' I asked. may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I