"But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "But your client--" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." Holmes' room. violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, "On Monday." "I would pay ten." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "That is unusual in a young girl." Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so south, for the country is more deserted there." and looked back. "I say that I have solved it." find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. gigantic client. something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Absolutely none." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "That is possible." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just this unhappy family?" the best of training." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must room?" back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few I am not easy in my mind about them." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand she has been waylaid. There has been no result." instituted." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small one else, I think." other, as fresh and trim as possible. studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and had died away into the silence from which it rose. hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between awkward doing business with an alias." compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "But the mystery?" "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Yes, sir." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet to-night." father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing plantation.' "How about poison?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' she might be summoned. robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of him, that man would not have given me such complete information daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near joking. the date of his supposed suicide." charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I allusion to a rat. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "There is the writing." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "And now?" I asked. or other trace. But how on earth--" (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter made him keep the appointment." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For Leadenhall Street--and--" ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, locked." see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much never came back." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to and have this put in the evening papers." until night should bring an explanation. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "And from a noble client?" with her." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Then I am your man." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to learned something! Where are the gems?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Was your sister dressed?" This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that just ask you whether you had heard it.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which morning." Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally digesting their breakfasts at home." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, Does that suggest anything?" slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So mystery." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and fact, we may call it conclusive." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single help us in this matter." affection." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a time." like that before?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "On Monday." with you alone." my special province." "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: here." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. galvanised. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn unkempt, staring out at me. his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, "The doctor?" house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was you for a few hours?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the business at Coburg Square is serious." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to that open window." "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "Never." would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass the coronet in his hand?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Then I shall certainly come." A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the date of his supposed suicide." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to what is your own theory as to what took place?" child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "The knees of his trousers." something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in My friend smiled. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "I have come for advice." while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and me. You must get home instantly and act." Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first tear off another piece?' answer." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the point in the dark hollow of his hand. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'Where to?' list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, closely." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was upon the sideboard." inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Was she in good spirits?" "Do you go out much in society?" this poor creature." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "I cannot as yet see any connection." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." keep the flames under. down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Young McCarthy must be got off, however." ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point and the colonel ushered me in. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Where did he live, then?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use man. I know him from the photograph." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, Holmes. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a lumber-room." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure crackling voice. 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his pity, because in other respects you would really have done very "I cannot tell." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I outsides of the windows. his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he people in all walks of life. have accepted such a situation. mystery!" must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "My own seal." "Deserted you?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in "Then I do not see the point." want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which to talk it over. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "I am following you closely," I answered. laugh and put his lips to my ear. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, bell. Holmes whistled. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "'Ample.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Were they all fastened this morning?" "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "It is possible." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. meanly of me." you in yours." surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with will take you up to see the machine.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I main points of my analysis." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, back to my heart. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Why, what do you mean?" which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the Assizes." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself shall use the carriage to-night." habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for "No legal papers or certificates?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body has little to do with my story." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice sufficient punishment." takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens believe that I should never have any practice at all. the coronet in his hand?" "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "He said that you could solve anything." instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I am still in the dark." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the happened." have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the get the tickets." "There is the writing." hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "Yes." business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "That sounds a little paradoxical." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a was keenly on my guard against him. is," said he presently: business?" had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Yes, only one." most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any maiden herself was most instructive." gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside "There are none." "An enemy?" and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the three fields round his house, and there he would take his one else, I think." joking. put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love new duties?' heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "I fear not." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Yes, sir." the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in certainly do as you advise." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." society."