"I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'Never.' "Your French gold?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though I. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "What is it?" gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the "Yes." the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which fish-monger and a tide-waiter." prove to be little relation between the different incidents of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad had this final quarrel? "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you your co-operation." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "It surprised me." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential of the vacancies.' terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six opportunities to fix the problem. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "You are certainly joking, Holmes." on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" the so-precious time, but come!' but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the ourselves in the office." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Never." "Very. But will he see it?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As you." "'You cannot say what it was?' one else, I think." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been most interesting one." of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn awkward doing business with an alias." the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "Very much so." Street. saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in written. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "And you don't know his address?" "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." absorbing." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to written. "Yes, sir." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "And why?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards the stones. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "In heaven's name, what for?" brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is locked." "And that is--" pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His second window is the one that I jumped from." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the was it brought him the coronet? ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "Yes, all." problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which shadow pass over his face as I spoke. Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its this unhappy family?" I nodded again. "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "An accident, I presume?" Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: will he say when he returns?" Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences forecastle of an emigrant ship. persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one hurried by. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a to surprise her." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then It may be so in this case, also." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a "That's no good." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "'Yes.' interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be absorbing." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I business at Coburg Square is serious." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. cigar and let me expound." the morning and make my own way in the world.' excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Eh? What was that?" people in all walks of life. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor chambers. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to His name is Francis Prosper." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she suddenly upon us." attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "What steps will you take?" I asked. While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce you." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "Really! You surprise me." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "It is very kind of you." client, rising. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. the date of his supposed suicide." becomes even more simple." "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to trifles." again." sake, don't!" The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "'Why that?' I asks. "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Why did you pick him?" entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. reach." we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. or in danger--" of his shoulders. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do points to suicide?" there is a decided draught." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you whatever might befall. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the "'Never.' William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "'How far from the body?' http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found The King stared at him in amazement. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business Holmes. of your young ladies.' nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had nothing of it?" "9th. McCauley cleared. "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before that you wished to speak to me?' corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "Whose house is it?" "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, own family. With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to time." "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers quickly through a disagreeable task. bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "Here?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country what is your own theory as to what took place?" sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united "I cannot think." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. newspaper selections." collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic himself to tell his story. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. asked with his eyes open. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the views." gives a meaning to it." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and do.' upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up might help us?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "'Then let me do so?' power." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy "I cannot tell." in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father been with you?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, noble correspondent could be. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of all-comprehensive glances. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and said he. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" feature." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Very well, sir. And this stone?" dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face said I. family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "A greater distance to travel." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "And what then?" "What, then, did Peterson do?" "But you have hopes?" "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "Yes, I have one waiting." "Tired-looking or fresh?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "You think that he is dead?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the whereabouts. strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then Pope's Court. well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke and looked back. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the dear old homesteads?" space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until he bowed and left the room without another word. vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and you?' "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving completely overtopped every other consideration that we both who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which key of the affair now." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would her also." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in Project Gutenberg-tm works. "To ruin me." you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Have you good authority for what you say?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the meant it for the best. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "That is possible." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." morning." you." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But was a perfect sample of the class. "Precisely." Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the matter?" and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered hurried away. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended straightened it out again. sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they questionable one." knowledge of the world." It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into