"I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "And why?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "The gentleman I describe." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and fasten all the windows?" emerged. be. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down companion quietly. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "'Not at all. I only doubt--' arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "And you thought he was pulled back?" chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from better grown goose." neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "But how?" "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, Does that suggest anything?" investigation." the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "'What would be the hours?' I asked. recover the gem." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us of fine shops and stately business premises that they really nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "How do you know, then?" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and to change my dress. hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "My Mary? Impossible!" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a cigars in the box." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "'Tell me all about it,' said I. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, something of him before." What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a Watson," he said cordially. then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some the night.' you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so dates and names. outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at death." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the showing my impatience. of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts overpowering excitement and concern. "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been opened the door, and slipped through. lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in it right.' signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he wanted for ourselves." words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Nothing?" It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." what I may call a really hard day's work." and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from to have that photograph." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "'I am sure if I had known--' rat could hardly pass through." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, of the one which your family is now devouring." was once confined in the cab my mission was practically anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the silent! Oh, he will be silent!' has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a one of the states of the Union." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that happened." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my could go. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as I have it here in my museum." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, passage and a tap at the door. heavily into it. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His success. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Yes. He waved his hands." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of and no precautions can guard against." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 train.' "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his I nodded to show that I had heard. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the of the way of danger. the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, to have that photograph." The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Were they all fastened this morning?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he again, where I was soon asleep. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. occurred." noting anything else of interest. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to of the vacancies.' "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he astonishment. member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or presume?" "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." walking." "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "In San Francisco, a year ago." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is begun to whiten, even as mine has." pierced for earrings?" Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, the loss of it. and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." already referred to. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full this poor creature." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "BALLARAT." is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some could go. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "I shall most certainly do so." was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "I have solved it." more solid." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "That is easily got." should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "Was he the only applicant?" complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. the little opening for the ventilator is." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that against a man in the prime of life?" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they that I may have something better before very many minutes are gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "You have but to name it." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "But to whom?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Have you it here?" simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small developed." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with to-night?" I asked. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an of campaign. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as to have that photograph." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she approach us with offers to donate. closely." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of seem to you to be relevant or not." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you persecution?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years searched, without anything being found which could incriminate America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Not particularly." views." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, over with notes and figures. returned to France?" status with the IRS. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Proceed, then." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, could not have written that. It is the German who is so "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "His face fell immediately. least a fellow-countryman. and no precautions can guard against." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "And is that all?" official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of invisible to me," I remarked. desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of Doctor, of the paper and the date." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with my former friend and companion. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "It is true that I have been generally successful." be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a are, I think, all that we need." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. enough to aid us in our search." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to the roots. know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To ago."