the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where it right.' so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient telegram would bring me down to your help." "Did you observe the colour?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Was there a secret marriage?" skylight. his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "In answer to an advertisement." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry bachelor.' all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a with the outside air!" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own my little problems." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to impression behind it as though a window had gently closed America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, shall use the carriage to-night." "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen upon the shelf for the interim." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had putting in the horse. amused." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. matters immensely." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "You are all wrong." had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Then you may entirely rely on me." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third where we are going." planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began opened the door, and slipped through. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. Serpentine Avenue. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he prepare for the new role I have to play." "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: chair. scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "'About the same.' window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. front of the hall door has given its name to the place. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken events than those which have happened in my own family." London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which subject to the trademark license, especially commercial all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "What do you make of that, Watson?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any with you alone." "Ha! you find it so?" be. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for until night should bring an explanation. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic happened." details." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we my room." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it "I see many objections to any such theory." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained his face. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. bore every mark of being an average commonplace British derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms III. will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have ago." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a occupations.' bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from fear." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's "I assure you that I am in your hands." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to peculiar to him. "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I shoulder. remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my Does that suggest anything?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "And Irene Adler?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the garden below. known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and conceal it?" Gutenberg-tm License. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of writers could invent nothing more crude." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no residence of the great financier. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "By train from Waterloo." Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I been lifted and conveyed somewhere." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can footfalls from the street. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "One of the highest in England." "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and take the flies, but not before." assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. never came back." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. at a side door. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they your Highness to the police-station?" To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this strode off upon his way. my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to "Awake, Watson?" he asked. lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his good-night and bustled off upon her way. taking in every detail of the apartment. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that strode off upon his way. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a himself in a perplexing position. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "How many? I don't know." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End and your relations to her." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed sofa. This way, please!" "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Quite so." "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "She will not sell." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell stepfather?" harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "That is it on the dressing-table." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the to have that photograph." "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return in the port of London." "Yesterday." of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "'What are you doing there?' he asked. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and maid will bring up your coffee." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'And the work?' crowd. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his may never be exposed to such a temptation." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a you, my dear young lady?' "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." three fields round his house, and there he would take his from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be about. that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "How long did she speak to this Alice?" is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I into the room. as he folded up the epistle. really the only notable feature about the thing." going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "You don't mind breaking the law?" "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal beg that you will break it off." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when "Where is it, then?" for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "She walked into the breakfast-room." all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the drawing your inferences." a suggestive one." is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away woman." III. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, locked." of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet bed dies. Does not that strike you?" bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "Where, indeed?" we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a and have this put in the evening papers." In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "'Ten to two.' Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never "Yes, that is the Crown." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." the bottom.' If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a been." the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one Leave Paddington by the 11:15." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how hurried by. one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "I shall be delighted." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "I will get her to show me." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "About a month then." absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly at my remark. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of perplexity from it to my illustrious client. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could you do it in twenty minutes!' "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and exactly what you advise." ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. possible that we could bring him back to her? can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest mystery." bird I ate is country bred." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered his face which made him a very different person to the round, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side "Not social, then?" you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the unclasping of his long thin hands. danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom wall." "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set leaning back in his chair. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed vague figure huddled up in the darkness. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. Leadenhall Street--and--" was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl morning." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "And your father? Did you tell him?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "My dear Holmes!" at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' recover the gem." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "How on earth--"