"His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "I think it very unlikely." my former friend and companion. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. own family. "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table lips." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody forehead. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have locked." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position be.' an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could little trying to do so much typewriting?" very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this him." A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still foot. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "Look there!" said he. closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most his face which made him a very different person to the round, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." will take you up to see the machine.' disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the advice." "I am in hopes that she does." sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." "I guessed as much." "No, distinctly professional." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace enter into my head. it." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. comes from the middle window." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right use an arc-and-compass breastpin." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up at once, for I have only half an hour." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, again before evening." made him keep the appointment." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'There is a drive, then?' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the vanished into the darkness. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "She showed me, as I told you she would." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his one else, I think." "So I am. Very much so." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us third from London." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the cigar and let me expound." five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, three of the beryls in it, was missing. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then will he say when he returns?" out." crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Get out!" said he. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. the very letters. But what is this written above them?' ashen face. and files of the old papers, following the future career of every however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "She told me to ask you." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as about. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You your sleep?' as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to just ask you whether you had heard it.' Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg were unconscious?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "Pray let us have it, for all that." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all are, I think, all that we need." bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the presented which may be striking and bizarre without being had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss as noiselessly as she had come. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that fear." "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, held up the lantern and gazed about him. Clair, of Lee." your co-operation." ceremony." the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which particular state visit http://pglaf.org her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until question you as to those details which seem to me to be most preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "Ten will be early enough." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "Then you may be so with me." mystery!" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than system of imprisonment?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still meant it for the best. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of the general public were present, then?" bill, which interests me deeply." cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the been deceived." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that test if we have an answer to our advertisement." article?" "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose carriage. It was a chestnut." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. once more for Briony Lodge. is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check believe that I should never have any practice at all. woman." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." questionable one." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have be.' window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, of the vacancies.' never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "My photograph." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural most interesting one." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, official police." that threaten you." judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking you want, then?' The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "No, I had a dozen." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot should be taken.' to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "But he might be a bachelor." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and man. I know him from the photograph." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a "You are all wrong." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to London for the present?" But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard shaken than I had ever seen him. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week brought there to personate someone, and the real person is shag which I had seen upon the previous night. man. my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door thirty. down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your posted to-day." "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Not social, then?" there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my province." work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods gigantic client. "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." little trying to do so much typewriting?" through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive again." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact you in yours." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the particular state visit http://pglaf.org afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Pope's Court. "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to acted in my house last night?" about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from where Mr. Fordham shows you.' a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among October 9, 1890. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. envelope. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were to a light-house. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a troubles have been weighing upon his mind. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager the salesman. friend's singular character. that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what when your master had gone out." his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. humiliation." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Thank you. Pray proceed." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off even of instruction." though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But bachelor.' "And your mother is alive?" stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Frequently." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little business at Coburg Square is serious." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said writer." "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." yourselves in at night?" possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the fat-encircled eyes. "Really! You surprise me." grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning presume?" "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to woman." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "None. Neville wrote those words." there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out questioning and rather startled gaze. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not persecution?" right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered other, as fresh and trim as possible. which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my she to prove their authenticity?" swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "No. What a strange idea!" sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, where we are going." de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of on re-entering her father's house?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work entirely lost his self-respect." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But weapon." "So I am. Very much so." corner of the building. day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close been lifted and conveyed somewhere." comes from the middle window." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "It is a murder, then?" little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his your most interesting statement." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this His name is Francis Prosper." off." air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the me. You must get home instantly and act." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were woven round him. the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. for the market.' Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "You think that he is dead?" dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "The gentleman I describe." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I