Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Where, then?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." putting in the horse. "My opinion is in no way altered." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed entirely devoid of interest." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly you?' is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" emerged. the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. evidence," I remarked. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is chair. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some sit on the left-hand side of the driver." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Really! You surprise me." "You have the photograph?" Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, you." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Yes, at the mines." voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them official police." said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the secret." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a straightened it out again. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every 11:15.' "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "No sign of it?" to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white narrative." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as fashion which was peculiar to him. respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in Eyford at 11:15.' refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" noting anything else of interest. resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you room. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by that, and I came down." said I. "You horrify me!" plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "Absolutely none." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was closely." "I cannot imagine." again." "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "But it has twice been burgled." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our the Assizes." "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his paper in the air. I held the little printed slip to the light. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow "I don't believe it." "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. unprecedented a position." the salesman. "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will "There are none." desk. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "But how did you gain them?" the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in will not take me long to tell. "How long did she speak to this Alice?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." and that he would see to anything that turned up. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "Did he not advertise?" There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to man. I know him from the photograph." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "Ample." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive for and were ordered to this address. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it was already answered. his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right himself in a perplexing position. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest your equipment. The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning face and glided from the room. "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I is so. I know all about McCarthy." absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "Well, it is a possible supposition." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and people in all walks of life. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. did not hear it also.' Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "But I am all in the dark." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and a few minutes he said that it would be all right. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "How do you know, then?" sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that without a word or a look. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and desk. happened." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the matter." once more. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Cross for the Continent." Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "No." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are success. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she searched, without anything being found which could incriminate of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door geese which you supplied to the Alpha." woman." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "No." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our morning." usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "Where, indeed?" "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should 1.F. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat "It came here." "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as your own bird, so if you wish--" of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." business?" out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened house for five minutes.' across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each strength in the others." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing would apply.' happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their appeared upon the scene." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once breakfast." simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "How often?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter acted in my house last night?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was entirely devoid of interest." pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, was it brought him the coronet? "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Always." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "You think that he is dead?" behind me. about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa furiously. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then problems help me to do so." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I am about to be married." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for up this clue while it is still hot." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed IS "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you never will be, entirely cleared up. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly than to us. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn Leave Paddington by the 11:15." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a copied or distributed: distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Then I shall certainly come." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then again before evening." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a "No, I am descending." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience noble correspondent could be. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family October 9, 1890. "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped bill, which interests me deeply." then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I it." "Were they all fastened this morning?" "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Of Friday, June 19th." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the iron safe, which he closed upon it. strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic approach us with offers to donate. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "One of the highest in England." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the here." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I leave you to your papers for a little." in him." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "'Ample.' "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, forebodings. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'And what salary do you ask?' since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself test if we have an answer to our advertisement." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over know all about it," he snarled. whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one at once, for I have only half an hour." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who people don't know." "He disappeared so suddenly." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the footfalls from the street. trying to your nerves." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, think, you have already met." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon ready to-morrow?' know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul noise which awoke you from your sleep?" what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "And Miss Sutherland?" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a "By all means." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "I have come for advice." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and opportunities to fix the problem. article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face away in different directions, and I went off to make my own extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "One of the highest in England." He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo been lifted and conveyed somewhere." "Do you go out much in society?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Oh, yes, easily." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's with you?" "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had derbies." "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps will not take me long to tell. and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, been." been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "That's no good." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It