ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very any more." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As you give your casting vote to?" like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Why that?' I asks. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'You cannot say what it was?' There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you results." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Dirty?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. hurried by. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety humiliation." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold said he, "my real name is James Ryder." highroad, where all traces were lost. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same union?" did not hear it also.' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a orange pips. manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Holmes, the busybody!" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Did your wife hear all this?" the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two lost nothing by them." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'Then let me do so?' "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in system of imprisonment?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could depend upon your compliance." your equipment. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for where she found matters as described by the last witness. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with his wife has ceased to love him." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in nonsense.' other, as fresh and trim as possible. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "To an end?" process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "How did that help you?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said in one or two places in England?' steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the how narrow had been my escape. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the to talk it over. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told papers must be those that are destroyed.' spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, burst into a hearty fit of laughter. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He IS data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had this truth that in these little records of our cases which you you?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire stepfather?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and least a most suspicious remark." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of knowledge of the world." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," persecution?" come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. absorbing." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, the station." companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, in a friendly supper." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and how narrow had been my escape. "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "You will not go there first?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City to have been novel and of interest." photograph?" Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging that you saw all that I did." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, works. See paragraph 1.E below. down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. instincts rose up against that laugh. done what I asked you, Jones?" "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Ten will be early enough." have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Yes, I have one waiting." wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." speckled band?" question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." golden eyeglasses. Holmes." "Pray do so." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a "A thing like a cleaver," said he. minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "I am still in the dark." with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, and your relations to her." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: strong reason behind." "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each even so self-evident a thing as that." "And why?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "That also I could fathom." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "You are hungry," I remarked. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror footfalls from the street. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I I nodded to show that I had heard. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, this Miss Turner." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed direction." States. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "Very truly yours, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "I answered that I had not. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never to talk it over. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved upon an income of about 60 pounds." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I there!' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not nothing of it?" On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be back alive. us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord man. "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my in your London, you will know that the office of the company is indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. sufficient punishment." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a him. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "The King of Scandinavia." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to arrive at through this?" With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I would apply.' over here." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the night.' said he. learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the will he say when he returns?" has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "Not in the least." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "No good news?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." when your master had gone out." and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when once more to my work. us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one away to you." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save careless servant girl?" hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. joking. careless servant girl?" paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business people in all walks of life. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him memory. "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Entirely." matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these ventilator." outside." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "Perhaps I have." empty. "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I both be extremely obliged.' the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which trying to your nerves." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of foresight and the moral retrogression?" "And leave your case unfinished?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he man. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. round with crates and massive boxes. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, rat could hardly pass through." from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in been." that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his Sholtos." gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to do.' "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, "She walked into the breakfast-room." "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for tell him that I know him to be innocent." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes round and wave him away like that.' "I saw her in conversation with her maid." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, within hail.' down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we "Witness: I must still refuse. "Perhaps I have." blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you too. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "What do you make of that, Watson?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as papers." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 than to us. every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "And why?" prison!" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Deserted you?" lips." "The doctor?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in to surprise her." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten fat-encircled eyes. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Where, then, is my wife?" "Have you her photograph?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that union?" "It is a murder, then?"