nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from I think that I could be of assistance to you." could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'Yes, it was gone.' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the prove to be little relation between the different incidents of One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "I beg pardon." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the house with me." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see *** START: FULL LICENSE *** I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, and files of the old papers, following the future career of every ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the prison!" "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an security.' "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry conceal it?" roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is "Is he quiet?" and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good recover the gem." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to I am not easy in my mind about them." been deceived." that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is of his shoulders. utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "I guessed as much." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt lips." yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "You were travelling in the States?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens night.' said he. best detective that ever lived. "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "'Entirely.' was shining brightly. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Two days later this same performance was gone through under down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to clanging. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Nothing." base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace with the outside air!" "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over "Why, it's a dummy," said he. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." London for the present?" "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I good-night and bustled off upon her way. reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if are, and they are waiting for us." across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same for the market.' farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been into the room. prisoner's face. him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "You are hungry," I remarked. police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the these bleak autumnal evenings." late." and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Ten will be early enough." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited a room. the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to are, and they are waiting for us." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew man. I know him from the photograph." locked. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of call the police, let the police find what they can.' seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "I will try. What is it?" words came to my lips. I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the was a loud and authoritative tap. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of my little problems." "What steps will you take?" I asked. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for other, as fresh and trim as possible. "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot husband's writing, madam." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "I have hopes." every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "By all means." doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: thirty. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." persecution?" you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my you." "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a forehead. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, rose-bushes. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "'Never.' said he, "my real name is James Ryder." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. of them has the shutters up.' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have straighten it?" well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I there." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by ago." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held You want to know what became of those geese?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the approach us with offers to donate. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a in one or two places in England?' He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "Breckinridge is his name." "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, him, that man would not have given me such complete information because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all useful material for showing traces. The double line a little the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Precisely so. But how--" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. back alive. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Not him." way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "I have solved it." "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "No." investigation." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar "He disappeared so suddenly." began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the have been better. It is all right." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. lumber-room." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, to-morrow." "Why? What do you mean?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white "Yes." my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "What shall I do?" open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger not, dad?" she asked. it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious friend's singular character. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Deserted you?" about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the without a word or a look. drove away. corner of the building. mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "So I have heard." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "What then?" Stoke Moran." does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with and files of the old papers, following the future career of every clanging. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if a very grave face. while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Could he throw no light?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Never." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Precisely so. But how--" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "You are all wrong." England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "I cannot say that I have." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few have had none more fantastic than this." upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own "But I have heard all that you have heard." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "What have you done?" asked Holmes. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "Yes, the wine-cellar." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I how narrow had been my escape. a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building be. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which our word." "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "You are hungry," I remarked. introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under relation between them, and what the object of his repeated of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side of the way of danger. have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "'How far from the body?' "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue through." would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "It is half-past ten now." are windows in it, of course?" dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended lost nothing by them." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "Game for a morning drive?" twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the nonsense.' He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "No." with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of his fortune, and I went back to pa. "How about poison?" as he remarks, very much against the son." exactly what you advise." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some "Nothing." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Who was the criminal, then?" sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always made his money." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in you give your casting vote to?" grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some absolutely follow my advice in every respect." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their to a light-house. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "He slept on the premises." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." been able to understand it, in a very few words. "Where to?" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "No, I am descending." I leave." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. not within a twentieth part of the market price." the driver. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Lee, in the county of Kent." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At that I can to serve you." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an my former friend and companion. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had