but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already I was concerned in it." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys the bed, and you in that chair." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very bearing upon the case." "But it has twice been burgled." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Then I am your man." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both least a most suspicious remark." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "I am about to be married." "When did it break out?" They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on to his chemical studies. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "And why?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "What then?" "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." province." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove Mrs. Toller serenely. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "Yes." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "From his hat?" comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" details." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and excitement. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand II. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "No, I think that I'll take it." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." from the brougham. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the intrusion of other matters." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old without success. At last the little money which I had saved began 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only the address that was given us in the advertisement. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this congratulate you again." cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready showing my impatience. "Eh? What was that?" no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. way in everything. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of our word." the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "By train from Waterloo." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in present." villagers almost as much as their master. "'Which dealer's?' beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then formed some opinion?" "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies meant it for the best. "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. had picked up in the wood. again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Yes, from Horsham." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As will he say when he returns?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." used to be." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not noble correspondent could be. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all already referred to. the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an companion imperturbably. any little problem which you may submit to me." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he sooner or later she must fall a victim. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "Your presence might be invaluable." said I. opportunities to fix the problem. "Absolutely none." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself matter over." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Then, as to money?" these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Well, but China?" usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had this unhappy family?" leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking colour had been driven from his face. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "In San Francisco, a year ago." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a "That also I could fathom." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot village inn over there?" advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I "Precisely so. But how--" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one I think that I could be of assistance to you." "What?" "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for mysterious business." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, which are rolled in Rotterdam." and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note frequently gained my first real insight into the character of do.' James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his during which he might have communicated with his friend the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to conduct the inquiry." street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler society." "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in as he folded up the epistle. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I taking in every detail of the apartment. chamber." rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that a good hundred miles off by now." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my back to my heart. pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." your troubles." "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. the Assizes." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out up this clue while it is still hot." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall row." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking held up the lantern and gazed about him. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the "I see many objections to any such theory." a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a her also." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in said I. no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, you found me to-night--and running through the front room she dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Yesterday." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, papers." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I even so self-evident a thing as that." he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her fattened it expressly for you.' will be renamed. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding congratulate you again." "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." shoulder; "he's all right." of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "'Yes, sir.' passage and a tap at the door. dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, call for protection in the marriage market, for the present poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a rat could hardly pass through." Chief Executive and Director I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the tail." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the at once, for I have only half an hour." the driver. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who affair. fact, we may call it conclusive." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "So I heard. You have him here?" "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. away to you." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too one else, I think." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his in the hope of finding them." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together of note-paper. It read in this fashion: been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "I was mad--insane." down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or 1.F. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our without a word or a look. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Where, then?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that you give your casting vote to?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the recall any case within my experience which looked at the first had died away into the silence from which it rose. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. make me his representative both with the servants and with the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. comes from the middle window." "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "I am sure." WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the salesman. "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure sneer upon his pale face. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very points to suicide?" Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She once more for Briony Lodge. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I there is a decided draught." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the meant." the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, chance at all." father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, which we had just quitted. some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with entirely lost his self-respect." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Yes, I have one waiting." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "And from a noble client?" and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "No good news?" like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the call you and give you the chance." his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in washing it down with a long draught of water. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a "May I see it?" to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. outbreak?" 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab upon the sideboard." "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own maiden herself was most instructive." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of attention." data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all that I am arrested." have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the side. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up definite end. "How on earth--" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these and files of the old papers, following the future career of every returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few mystery." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the posted to-day." of the one which your family is now devouring." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than