and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "Not in the least." "I say it is." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "How can you tell that?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "In San Francisco, a year ago." was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the that he will be back before evening." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a at my remark. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "Nothing?" "And now?" He raised his hand. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than friends, not even his own brother. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my retorted upon me, and I on you." friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "What then?" smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, that you saw all that I did." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "But you have hopes?" "Not particularly." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious the ceiling. seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "And how did you verify them?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do The events in question occurred in the early days of my habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really beyond words. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though was it brought him the coronet? front of the hall door has given its name to the place. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to bore every mark of being an average commonplace British someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and put his glass in his pocket. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I to Leatherhead. where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well memory. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of "It missed him, then?" southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'It is locked up,' I answered. coroner's jury." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the himself to hunt down. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "But he might be a bachelor." was feeling which was the fattest.' "I promise," said Holmes. problems help me to do so." assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, pity, because in other respects you would really have done very touch that coronet?' "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four wife's character?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "Nothing?" "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have the little opening for the ventilator is." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly handed it to him. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "This photograph!" or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' "The doctor?" window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered events than those which have happened in my own family." the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Very much so." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." villagers almost as much as their master. was used.' lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred horse could go." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook true." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' foresight and the moral retrogression?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but one or two very singular points about this room. For example, fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they there!' Watson," he said cordially. "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that through." least a fellow-countryman. a monotonous occupation." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the sit on the left-hand side of the driver." study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we laugh and put his lips to my ear. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose occupations.' "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "That is possible." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw page at http://pglaf.org there." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look key of the affair now." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was dead, shall be safe with us." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the your co-operation." "But his lameness?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I know where it is." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her *** START: FULL LICENSE *** to have been novel and of interest." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by that I may have something better before very many minutes are retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "And is that all?" settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, nothing with him." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "Certainly." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm lost nothing by them." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and lips." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he them present such singular features as the strange train of conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's and effective." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little nonsense.' "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All not interfere, come what may. You understand?" will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "Why did you pick him?" paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "Then the page we have seen--" morning." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Holmes." quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a singular points about the case. What did the police think of the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been you in your example." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. row." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would father's place of business?" its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our followed. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these upon an income of about 60 pounds." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at him nearly every evening." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "But the mystery?" passage and a tap at the door. as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last in the port of London." for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in The King stared at him in amazement. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to astonishment. either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "What! a murderous attack?" the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "I came to find a friend." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end compunction about shooting them down." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "Witness: It was. doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "No, but the enclosure is." in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "But of what society?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece "'Certainly,' I answered. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and "And what did you see?" reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on said he. Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight photograph a cabinet?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Witness: Nothing definite. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we letters?" chair. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a fuss that is made over them." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'It is locked up,' I answered. made him keep the appointment." conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "Nearly eleven." I am not easy in my mind about them." immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. cheerful." liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor is a common subject for conversation. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the tear off another piece?' have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear them present such singular features as the strange train of "But he might be a bachelor." him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "How did you deduce the select?" opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been of the vacancies.' it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my father's young wife. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Edgeware Road. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "'How far from the body?' possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no