He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come might help us?" of campaign. "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it that?' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "How do you know, then?" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." lips." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my six. Come in!" A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry fuss that is made over them." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere room. I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp stammered. union?" commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn the little opening for the ventilator is." "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "Yes." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. business matters.' "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, perplexity from it to my illustrious client. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Why did you beat the pavement?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional His name is Francis Prosper." reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the breakfast and whispered something to her husband. to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there with you?" "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right business." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at careless servant girl?" already referred to. prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the strength of mind to control. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "I think that it is very probable." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Not in a good cause." "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, "What do you make of that, Watson?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents emerged. "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: awkward doing business with an alias." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a neither fascinating nor artistic." qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "In the cells." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged "I should wish to." copied or distributed: so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and bearing upon the case." drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony for the market.' year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'How far from the body?' THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and discontent upon his features. "You have but to name it." and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of ready to-morrow?' and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for three of the beryls in it, was missing. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform about here speaks of his kindness to him." to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman keep the flames under. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "ARAT," I read. "No, my brougham is waiting." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to locked. "No." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Yes, only one." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "It was an hour's good drive." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "Stolen, then." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "Not in a good cause." "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "What have you to say now?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some she has been waylaid. There has been no result." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood when your master had gone out." to me. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. what is your own theory as to what took place?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating of them has the shutters up.' trifles." showing my impatience. previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed Leadenhall Street--and--" always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There you." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." Watson," he said cordially. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When and wait." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. works. See paragraph 1.E below. disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they locked. "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. few hundred pounds.' The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him think that any burglar could have done. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of success. can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "'What then?' I asked. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "Because he was handy and would come cheap." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the once more for Briony Lodge. mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to sparkled upon his finger. "It is very clear." coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "No, I had a dozen." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in key turn in the lock." Count Von Kramm." "Eh? What was that?" were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a undoubtedly my uncle's." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "Where, indeed?" rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' impression behind it as though a window had gently closed at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a for and were ordered to this address. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Then I shall certainly come." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. it right.' even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless families. Now for the facts. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, villagers almost as much as their master. "Why? What do you mean?" Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." his face which made him a very different person to the round, "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can the roots. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "Yes, he did." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the and I shall be with you presently." the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to delirious. friend's singular character. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, said he. "I beg pardon." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "On the contrary, this is the right side." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally so far?" essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards said he. what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "Won't it ring?" "I would give my fortune to have them back." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and woven round him. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "But I am all in the dark." last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "How on earth--" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. "Yes, the wine-cellar." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the be sorry for having acted so harshly." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast like gravel from a pit.' to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." in the port of London." "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Oh, yes, easily." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few triumphant cloud from his cigarette. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been himself to tell his story. "I never have." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "Your sister is dead, then?" reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in back to my heart. little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great assist you in forming an opinion." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "To an end?" the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "It was." "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when Holmes. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the lips." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "It is very kind of you." the Red-headed League." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "Yes." "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in companion quietly. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit there has been an enclosure here!" return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "I am in hopes that she does." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "How about poison?" he died? he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who and the whole place is in a blaze." trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project are, and they are waiting for us." "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not residence of the great financier. three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the side. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up little adventures." struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "Did he not advertise?" for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there good for you to do.' not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your you in yours." his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went absorbing." "Yes." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the clanging. moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which passage and a tap at the door. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact arms and began to sob in a high treble key. may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Quite so." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." people don't know." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "Why did you pick him?" that you wished to speak to me?' PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major "But you can know nothing of this?" INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH father's place of business?" than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing sit on the left-hand side of the driver." upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a noting anything else of interest. "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "No." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come lids now and glanced across at his visitor. say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said