once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but chamber." "What will you do, then?" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his come either from the window or the door. My attention was clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the into the room. little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One room?" "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, few hundred pounds.' be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Ten will be early enough." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the stable lane now." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into simple cases which are so extremely difficult." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had It was close upon four before the door opened, and a once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "What of the rat, then?" "Ha! you find it so?" "Witness: I must still refuse. but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which I nodded again. about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the tension within him. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the night.' "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'Never,' said I. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I room. springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to very morning of my second wedding." "Were they all fastened this morning?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the armchair which I pushed forward for him. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to rat could hardly pass through." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he absorbing." "Yes, sir." The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in them?" adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this charged with?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were a little more before I quite committed myself. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Yes, he did." "No good news?" the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the client, rising. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "How did he come?" remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new charge against him will break down." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies children over to America with him, so that I found myself without a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's where she found matters as described by the last witness. charged with?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "You have a clue?" Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Yes." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has room. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Dirty?" "What then?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any were new raised from a basin. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "And now?" He raised his hand. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'I am sure that I do not know.' very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the long narrative. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "No sign of it?" "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "How can you tell that?" is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I "And what did you see?" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, sake, don't!" the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in yourselves in at night?" know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "You have carte blanche." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "And now?" He raised his hand. "And on what day did he meet his death?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Cross for the Continent." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler Sutherland?" It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE discontent upon his features. Again Holmes raved in the air. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I shall be delighted." enter into my head. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of dramatic, in fact." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the fish-monger and a tide-waiter." to have that photograph." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting lamp in his hand. this as likely?" beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Was there a secret marriage?" wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." will take you up to see the machine.' exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of infinite languor in his face. Holmes' thin, eager face. Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "And how did you verify them?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has thirty. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue such person." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. and looked back. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "No." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of the Friday. Was it to be in church?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out very old mansion. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" should be so warm over such a trifle." hand, madam?" hardly wander." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. breakfast." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "'I have heard so.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "How many? I don't know." I was concerned in it." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in take the flies, but not before." whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "And how?" your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, wife's character?" "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each a very grave face. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father I am not easy in my mind about them." which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Thank you. Pray proceed." "What then?" prison!" "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "And you don't know his address?" believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was we went to search for him, face downward in a little side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the the station." Mary, has deserted me." me upon any point which I do not make clear." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears hands. him nearly every evening." and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see your co-operation." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "May I see it?" in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." very peculiar words of the dying woman?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "The knees of his trousers." adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad locked. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than and laid it on the table. if I call to-morrow?" Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so down. go from here to the Strand." is so. I know all about McCarthy." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Look there!" said he. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Henry Baker is a member." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes lumber-room." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "I should be immensely obliged to you." was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Oh, yes, easily." to-night?" I asked. himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after the south-west, I see." of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with coroner's jury." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "That also I could fathom." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he point our research must commence, and we will begin it by your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "Entirely." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." his forehead." "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "Oh, fresh and glossy." the morning and make my own way in the world.' it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," During two years I have had three consultations and one small heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I From what you have told me I think that it is possible that even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. best detective that ever lived. that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might the stones. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Her father is very rich?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a respectable self." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "'In my own bureau.' by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the as he folded up the epistle. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen empty. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a