enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It here and I will read it to you: weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "I have my revolver," said I. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every your most interesting statement." "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "'You cannot say what it was?' newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. cheerful." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of attention." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "You have it, sir, just as it happened." Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Where does the thing come from?' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Again Holmes raved in the air. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or Eyford." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "It missed him, then?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on character. stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "I am following you closely," I answered. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how hair?' "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "I am about to be married." revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "So I heard. You have him here?" eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the there were so many in the whole country as were brought together that I may have something better before very many minutes are some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too habit of advancing money.' remarked. bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same 'please.'" helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our ill-usage at the hands of fortune. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to lost nothing by them." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there your most interesting statement." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We call for it in person on Monday morning.' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, Holmes' face clouded over. his huge brown hands. "No." "No more words. Get out!" "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round again." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting newspaper selections." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the kind enough to tell me what I should do." the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a place of silver." to have been novel and of interest." to-night." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid remarked. considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover This is what he says: chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. in his hands." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, must be when I saw the door open.' immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be Mary, has deserted me." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view and that he would see to anything that turned up. is so. I know all about McCarthy." is four-and-twenty." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as God! What an exposure! What can I do?" an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "'Which dealer's?' "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "VIOLET HUNTER." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" it." I held the little printed slip to the light. standing smiling on the door-step. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would lumber-room." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had question," said Holmes, smiling. me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "She told me to ask you." to affect your life." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the empty. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "Entirely." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "'A dozen yards or so.' misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "The knees of his trousers." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "No, thank goodness, she did not." But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." society." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the on re-entering her father's house?" Watson," he said cordially. "Why, what do you mean?" "I came to find a friend." ago." "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Precisely." Chief Executive and Director remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running highly," said Holmes. its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: all-comprehensive glances. Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have bedroom door." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw shall use the carriage to-night." my friend's incisive reasoning. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "'What, the red-headed man?' had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old it." cheerful." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not himself. "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two so far?" drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new the coronet in his hands?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Where, indeed?" possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the answered with a sidelong glance. your own bird, so if you wish--" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime several quiet little villages up there." Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks and no precautions can guard against." it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "In heaven's name, what for?" hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "Well?" "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight morning." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us ready to-morrow?' gentleman's clothes. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "And how did he make his money?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with secret." had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." the bottom.' speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the third from London." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have of the vacancies.' the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big right! Sit down and let us talk it over." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, late." following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about he died? "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and a shock of very red hair. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at system of imprisonment?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon sentimental considerations in the background which would induce always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "What is it, then--a fire?" woman." relief. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled and the whole place is in a blaze." off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Witness: I must still refuse. reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, bird I ate is country bred." entirely lost his self-respect." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his "But to whom?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send wall." "What then?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "We have tried and failed." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed sparkled upon his finger. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the quick march!" "Ah, but I was recommended to you." http://www.gutenberg.net this truth that in these little records of our cases which you paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be few hundred pounds.' weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, "You have carte blanche." sparkled upon his finger. "It is half-past ten now." repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons feature." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" mysterious end." passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day to tackle the facts." any." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her their singular warning or token before them when starting upon robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "Very well, sir. And this stone?" which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must the address that was given us in the advertisement. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his been lifted and conveyed somewhere." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most are, and they are waiting for us." should be so warm over such a trifle." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." one of them." "My dear Holmes!" running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon again on its way. shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove