more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel your room." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "'Certainly,' I answered. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "I saw her in conversation with her maid." bearing upon the case." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should best detective that ever lived. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. and the whole place is in a blaze." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was to-night?' when you have done it." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. one which it was hard to resist. is now desirous of getting those letters back." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I that the gas is not laid on in his house?" of the one which your family is now devouring." "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of papers diligently of late, have you not?" landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote ago." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Perhaps I have." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "Yes." death." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "BALLARAT." "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Gutenberg-tm License. which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of shoulder. hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler said I. was used.' believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very dramatic, in fact." though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." woven round him. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to shoulder; "he's all right." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the straighten it?" you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the cost them two and thirty pounds." always that they were such commands as a lady might with used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Whose house is it?" of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring "You think that he is dead?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter have been better. It is all right." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit problems help me to do so." then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "No, I had a dozen." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and next day. I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Lee, in the county of Kent." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and like that before?" round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "My private note-paper." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "My opinion is in no way altered." McCarthy." introspective fashion. age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room crackling voice. or in danger--" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of crackling voice. "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual recall any case within my experience which looked at the first To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's a very grave face. would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the went to the Alpha were town bred." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "And your father? Did you tell him?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Ample." I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we appointment with me for six o'clock?" "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots infinite languor in his face. populous neighbourhood." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much This is what he says: "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "Married! When?" civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "I should be immensely obliged to you." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I fishes. upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the bed, and you in that chair." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "No good news?" now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' to Leatherhead. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "So I am. Very much so." "I cannot as yet see any connection." lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when father's young wife. "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." "And who is her maid?" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer so far?" their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "What will you do, then?" comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it someone who had been in Australia." said he. was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more then?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "I shall most certainly do so." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just thin legs towards the fire. back to my heart. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Have you it here?" face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see voice. "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "I am sure." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and wedding?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face room had already been engaged for us. in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon "And Miss Sutherland?" threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed conversation I have gathered that they have been married about have not had my rubber." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, been shamefully used." as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a Munro.' "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend his wife has ceased to love him." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and orange pips. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian instituted." "But you can know nothing of this?" "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your to take care of herself." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "Yes, certainly." thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in ventilator." information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and asked with his eyes open. weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, orange pips. he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his an introduction to him?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. without success. At last the little money which I had saved began brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about security.' fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "No, I think that I'll take it." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Yes." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as hurried away. "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in business at Coburg Square is serious." Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the the loss of it. remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very useful material for showing traces. The double line a little prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll British peeress.'" "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are business matters.' the Red-headed League." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Quite so. She has her freedom." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there least a fellow-countryman. "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "No. What a strange idea!" "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very ready to-morrow?' have got?" young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I cannot tell." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." at a side door. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" American. Then who could this American be, and why should he professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very ill-usage at the hands of fortune. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the be best to do. views." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen must compliment you." to talk it over. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a good hundred miles off by now." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Not yet." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "Here?" fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "You have compromised yourself seriously." together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as be best to do. papers diligently of late, have you not?" groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean License. You must require such a user to return or "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Certainly." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Certainly." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two then?" hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' pound a week." "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, Dr. Gregory B. Newby opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' prison!" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even our word." sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "I saw her in conversation with her maid." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "'I shall certainly be there.' generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." fuss that is made over them." "It goes to the housekeeper's room." bears upon the case?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." the nursery. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was that I am arrested." the Red-headed League." sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who "That also I could fathom." the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "What then?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no tension within him. his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was standing smiling on the door-step. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he