"But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the figure." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous gigantic client. the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you tapping his fingers upon the table. the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the King without delay." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or the stable lane now." was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the into her hand at the door and which lured her within their murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no was it brought him the coronet? air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "What do you mean?" smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a me." "Which surely he restored to their owner?" said Mr. Holder. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either compunction about shooting them down." least a fellow-countryman. "None." "I have solved it." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do that there was nothing in it, after all." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for them?" India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can window when the police appeared." spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that Street. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "'You cannot say what it was?' "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good awkward doing business with an alias." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is that?' chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "That is unusual in a young girl." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone me, and I could not think that his explanation of the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." forecastle of an emigrant ship. "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly fat-encircled eyes. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "I do." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to that open window." deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly eat it." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'Where to?' "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always trifles." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "It is to him that this trophy belongs." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. his face. "Yesterday." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Yes, sir." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. as he remarks, very much against the son." "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "I am still in the dark." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "In which, sir?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler I have it here in my museum." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just "'And the work?' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, question you as to those details which seem to me to be most enough to aid us in our search." man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his troubles have been weighing upon his mind. home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first least a most suspicious remark." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the better grown goose." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian of receipt of the work. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah "My dear Holmes!" the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Perhaps we may make them less so." tell them apart.' who was a member of your goose club." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. to-night?' Lee, in the county of Kent." Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small eat it." swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "It is a murder, then?" carried out of court." congenial hunt. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." "Where to?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the prisoner's face. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his call it cruel." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been gone before you can get him to hospital." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had fat-encircled eyes. "I do." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "Certainly." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very national property. I was determined that the law should have its Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards stammered. "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, figure." seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "And you don't know his address?" as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change humiliation." "Yes." you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we stalked out of the room. "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Certainly not.' The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "No, I think that I'll take it." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. corner of the building. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we if she died from some sudden fright." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that yourselves in at night?" "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it interest. They are important, you understand, without being for its centre. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over round and wave him away like that.' In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "Just look it up, then." "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." would apply.' searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours wife's character?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From know that the truth is known." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than spark where all is dark to me." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties wanted for ourselves." have got?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own despair." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable to a light-house. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias morning." Farm upon the left." carried out of court." "No." the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the upon the white wrist. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, and your relations to her." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the will he say when he returns?" "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his past. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and past. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "You have compromised yourself seriously." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "'And the work?' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is face and glided from the room. "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to dates and names. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days the so-precious time, but come!' call the police, let the police find what they can.' is acting for the best. know what is wrong with it.' "But what is it you wish?" see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding client, rising. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it hour." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to least a most suspicious remark." the coronet in his hands?" eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, photograph?" 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the room had already been engaged for us. among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond enough to aid us in our search." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did waste of energy." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet awkward doing business with an alias." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, memory. with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard not fit the lock." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and I leave." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my been lifted and conveyed somewhere."