dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "No, my brougham is waiting." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as "Pray do so." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' or in danger--" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but you for a few hours?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "And Irene Adler?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to already been minutely examined." the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him you in yours." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an of the one which your family is now devouring." part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black closely." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "Awake, Watson?" he asked. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable strength in the others." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had definite end. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "About a month then." "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "At half-wages, in fact." wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up know what is wrong with it.' vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by instincts rose up against that laugh. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most "It goes to the housekeeper's room." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in What do you deduce from it?" though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "In heaven's name, what for?" benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" over with notes and figures. father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his just called myself is not exactly my own." by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can salesman. cup of tea. young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him For additional contact information: exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Did he not advertise?" "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "'Which dealer's?' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey you understand?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited have got?" Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "And now?" I asked. an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. himself to hunt down. Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." distinguish the words: tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that important." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to be best to do. "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and that the gas is not laid on in his house?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something during that time.' furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, affair. the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! Dr. Gregory B. Newby fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much tension within him. play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and you for a few hours?" "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." useful material for showing traces. The double line a little there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always interests were the same as his." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Look there!" said he. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he "Well?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. hour?' "Nothing?" closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "And I say east," said my patient. "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the States. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the at once, for I have only half an hour." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "You know me, then?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "I am still in the dark." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the the Assizes." pictures, libraries, or plate. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a even so self-evident a thing as that." "Proceed, then." "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "It's nothing of the kind." "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his I. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'Ample.' father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event outside. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing in a friendly supper." better in every way that they should make their position a little face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the than to us. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of second." Countess of Morcar's?" these bleak autumnal evenings." note?" "Then I do not see the point." may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in into her hand at the door and which lured her within their "'I am sure if I had known--' official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Lee, in the county of Kent." see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly there when the Rucastles went away." that you saw all that I did." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. started for the Temple to see my husband. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the narrative." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you some mystery and the punishment of some crime." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able with frightened eyes at his accuser. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it bare slabs of marble. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I see no marks." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a at home. it." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "Never." compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "And your mother is alive?" no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. felt the room to be a little close.' occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a you." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "'There is a drive, then?' "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to with some details as to your case." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with once more for Briony Lodge. not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "'As governess?' reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the "Certainly." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "So I have heard." This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was it. interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did beg that you will break it off." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so nights." "Yes, from Horsham." he. whereabouts. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as The King stared at him in amazement. astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "Of Friday, June 19th." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "In what way?" asked Holmes. which was all perfectly true. "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose delighted to hear it," he said. "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking manager. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. went to the Alpha were town bred." soul! here is her carriage at the door." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "No, thank goodness, she did not." pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when The note was undated, and without either signature or address. and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his paper in the air. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements to tackle the facts." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an the Friday. Was it to be in church?" to-night." A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you said he. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." to a light-house. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Of Friday, June 19th." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my over here." opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose your sleep?' object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little drawing your inferences." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in you understand?" and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Not in a good cause." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Oh, fresh and glossy." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was of this gang." sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is stalked out of the room. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in future lives." our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we was not a bird to be seen there. and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got would then never go into court at all." be sorry for having acted so harshly." attention." "None." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled a room. politicians who had been sent down from the North. second window is the one that I jumped from." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may the nursery. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't him and tried to hold him back. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a so.' the King without delay." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened occurred." Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "You horrify me." hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "Yes, that is the Crown." "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "It certainly sounds feasible." we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might laugh and put his lips to my ear. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when as yours." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as "You will not go there first?" while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their asked. Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts,