in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to weary and pale-looking. and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "Have you it here?" dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my business matters.' later, upon the night of May 2nd." hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "'Yes, I promise.' sound at heart." crime. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax himself to hunt down. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him take the flies, but not before." what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the outside." "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an Have you good authority for what you say?" hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "Did your wife hear all this?" That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There dramatic, in fact." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with was not a bird to be seen there. my former friend and companion. balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is Lee, in the county of Kent." animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who strong and stiff." "Yes." it means?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "No legal papers or certificates?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go would apply.' upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "I know where it is." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. get her out of the way." nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should beyond words. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "Was the window open?" beg that you will break it off." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, and that he would see to anything that turned up. towards the blaze. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average the tragedy. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you any more." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Precisely." "On your arm?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window bird of prey. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our other, as fresh and trim as possible. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" unclasping of his long thin hands. to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I "Pray tell us what has happened to you." beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which bled considerably." or other trace. But how on earth--" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so what is your own theory as to what took place?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger "Ah!" when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue something of him before." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "I say it is." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." written. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and evidence," I remarked. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in "The gentleman I describe." "Well, but China?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the do.' round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in retorted upon me, and I on you." About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and chair. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" point in the dark hollow of his hand. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea The events in question occurred in the early days of my overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran where she found matters as described by the last witness. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo weigh very heavily upon my conscience." was keenly on my guard against him. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my ashen face. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down never will be, entirely cleared up. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in "Certainly." "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in to take care of herself." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This *** START: FULL LICENSE *** Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter away to you." furiously. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "What of the rat, then?" belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big Heh?' heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her results." derbies." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I voice, changing her seat as requested. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "She walked into the breakfast-room." "How can you tell that?" Watson," he said cordially. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your detained." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to answer." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "You have the photograph?" blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself good-night and bustled off upon her way. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the cigars in the box." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered the morning and make my own way in the world.' "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE burst into a hearty fit of laughter. showing my impatience. the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which said he. force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an followed. surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." singular points about the case. What did the police think of the nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he undoubtedly my uncle's." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "And Irene Adler?" sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's throat." of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As my former friend and companion. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a back alive. formed some opinion?" surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus I have it here in my museum." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "This concluded the examination of the witness." matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such was already answered. I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must against a man in the prime of life?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy "He said too much." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my for and were ordered to this address. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "I see many objections to any such theory." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "ARAT," I read. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of the best of training." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed the salesman. appointment with me for six o'clock?" The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the investigation." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to him." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in business came to an end." conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "I know where it is." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There to surprise her." the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny this as likely?" considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "I guessed as much." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." call the police, let the police find what they can.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand your bag." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going you." "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman you in your example." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "To ruin me." am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "It must be recovered." between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk vague figure huddled up in the darkness. - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any gone. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he the coroner come to?" leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have with some details as to your case." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but hopeless attempt at recovering them." "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare vanished into the darkness. tell them apart.' harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up call for it in person on Monday morning.' "It is half-past ten now." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know The summons was a brief and urgent one. "But I am all in the dark." to talk it over. had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag about. there is a decided draught." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked closing the door. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "One?" "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father grasp, he hurried from the room. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Why did you beat the pavement?" We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. second window is the one that I jumped from." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "No, I had a dozen." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open was once confined in the cab my mission was practically obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body ourselves in the office." "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears children over to America with him, so that I found myself without pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, were new raised from a basin. the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some the tragedy. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are