answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I breakfast." casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." indeed happy." seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in started for the Temple to see my husband. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. learned something! Where are the gems?" "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained been able to understand it, in a very few words. "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: the night.' that the gas is not laid on in his house?" At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had light and attacked it." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used the inner apartment." "Never." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever shag which I had seen upon the previous night. thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp spark where all is dark to me." the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and people don't know." "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Pray let us have it, for all that." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first "What is it, then--a fire?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the "None." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "To the police?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you breakfast and whispered something to her husband. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It residence of the great financier. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such and files of the old papers, following the future career of every read over the extraordinary announcement. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very points to suicide?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "'Ample.' door?" "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to may have an influence upon European history." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know once more. perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be look upon these things in a different way." Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, I nodded to show that I had heard. coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "At half-wages, in fact." "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew of the efforts of the United States government and of the better was the fact that his father should, according to his account, us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the likely to be some crony of the landlady's." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the I shall communicate with you." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her suggested at once that there must be a communication between the Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before "Why serious?" walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't address. "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off what these perils are?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper the general public were present, then?" professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" that I am arrested." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between despair." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a as the one I chose?' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "What will you do, then?" that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the very letters. But what is this written above them?' make me his representative both with the servants and with the might help us?" "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "Very. But will he see it?" of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am your troubles." into the bag, and made for the door. as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the so far?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and him and tried to hold him back. meant." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. "I think that it is very probable." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than lamp. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "In San Francisco, a year ago." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "She will not sell." light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said him, that man would not have given me such complete information bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Yes, at the mines." and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little Sholtos." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "But what is it you wish?" "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the is worth.' admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Perfectly so." know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Do you go out much in society?" that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with "What, then, did Peterson do?" "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Then I do not see the point." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'Yes, sir.' ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside someone who had been in Australia." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "Then I am your man." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been for securing the situation." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the humiliation." "No." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, brain must have something in it." "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight and wait." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul fluttered off among the others. people in all walks of life. back alive. complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but front of the hall door has given its name to the place. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." waste of energy." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he our word." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Serpentine Avenue. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his like that before?" Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his you in your example." "I don't believe it." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the long narrative. o'clock is it?" without success. At last the little money which I had saved began disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but to a light-house. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to Holmes' face clouded over. I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black the so-precious time, but come!' "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. written, and locked the door of the office after me. any." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Yes, I have one waiting." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The to surprise her." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the nursery. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after foresight and the moral retrogression?" hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really from the brougham. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "Nor running a chance of arrest?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his DISSOLVED. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain strength in the others." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one fishes. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "Certainly, madam." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained foresight and the moral retrogression?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a Farm upon the left." hurried by. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who showing my impatience. occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of fashion which was peculiar to him. "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "'I have heard so.' "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "One horse?" interjected Holmes. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." that he will be back before evening." beyond words. "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a The note was undated, and without either signature or address. down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint "But of what society?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be as this. Pray let me have the details." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if had died away into the silence from which it rose. at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for sound at heart." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "'Where could I find him?' eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows knowledge of the world." "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw case before our client came into the room." "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "On Monday." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards question," said Holmes, smiling. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. the salesman. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" to that open window." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "But not more so than I to find you." "I never have." Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman should be so warm over such a trifle." you came in." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; weapon." formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we might help us?" you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Again Holmes raved in the air. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Not him." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced to tackle the facts." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his showing my impatience. For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a allusion to a rat. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had you." "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard hands. "Yes, it was twisted." foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his and wait." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "You know me, then?" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester was a lad." "'I shall certainly be there.' With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he all?" it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, "His face fell immediately. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I attention." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that forebodings. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each six. Come in!" particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "I have hopes." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands should be so warm over such a trifle." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "Just look it up, then." stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you singular points about the case. What did the police think of the gone. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Witness: I must still refuse. I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person conspiring, or the grace and kindliness with which she waited Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Eyford." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "And now?" He raised his hand. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Stoke Moran." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the "Dirty?"