me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and leaning back in his chair. seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much you do it in twenty minutes!' me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must maid will bring up your coffee." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I any more." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of held up the lantern and gazed about him. which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in there is a decided draught." greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "No. His orders were to stay in the house." case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could to arrive at through this?" reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by "I have my revolver," said I. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "No. What a strange idea!" I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." it." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "What shall I do?" golden eyeglasses. and that he would see to anything that turned up. desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent and the colonel ushered me in. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "'No, I know no one in these parts.' "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "How can you tell that?" even of instruction." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "But how?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. Doctor, of the paper and the date." "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, important." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms Have you good authority for what you say?" took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, went to the Alpha were town bred." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and again, where I was soon asleep. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "What I expected to see." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And one's self under obligations.' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in that, and I came down." in your London, you will know that the office of the company is young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at thirty. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot direction." the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we to a light-house. and the whole place is in a blaze." halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with the running down." upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. himself in a perplexing position. carpenter." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "None." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry manager. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, is four-and-twenty." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "'Yes, I promise.' "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. the salesman. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "A client, then?" habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite with you?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. the nursery. it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "You have compromised yourself seriously." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my of them has the shutters up.' fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I "No, distinctly professional." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I your equipment. what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "And that is--" rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have ordinary clothes on?" his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "Pray continue your narrative." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "I have seen the police." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Upon what point?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he one else, I think." that he has suffered." said I. have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Get out!" said he. the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would "Not particularly." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you could gather together that I was able to avert another public Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I promised to bring home. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel happened." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "You did not overhear what they said?" in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the bled considerably." lamp in his hand. of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "'Where could I find him?' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Yes." leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Holmes' thin, eager face. amused." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here infinite languor in his face. know that the truth is known." it." deduce something from that?" "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Then what has happened to him?" "So I heard. You have him here?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose was lame." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Holmes rather sternly. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "How often?" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "What do you make of that, Watson?" his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little remarked. glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "I will do it." "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the just called myself is not exactly my own." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his everything which you would wish to know." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Why? What do you mean?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." my former friend and companion. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I himself to hunt down. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "It is very clear." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I me." that you wished to speak to me?' cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" any little problem which you may submit to me." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner hardly wander." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Texas, I think." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project that the gas is not laid on in his house?" passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." read it out to me." evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a six. Come in!" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy are, I think, all that we need." appeal." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. character. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Munro.' possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to detective. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and characteristics, but those are the more obvious." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round business." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can for the market.' impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. together. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be once more for Briony Lodge. approach us with offers to donate. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have his face which made him a very different person to the round, not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "My photograph." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, ran thus: known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he with her." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur Surrey." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' time." prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same little adventures." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "Proceed, then." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" stood on the top of it. knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. "No, distinctly professional." "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found swore that no one else had been in the front room during the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no see me here to avoid scandal." that?' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: to some other building. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Henry Baker is a member." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "And the cigar-holder?" for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "May I see it?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt