goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Which dealer's?' arrangements." acquaintance?" confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. was lame." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among man. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the there when the Rucastles went away." envelope. and laid it on the table. low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could you want, then?' "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a of his shoulders. paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the which we had just quitted. "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "But we can't all be." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running she has been waylaid. There has been no result." best detective that ever lived. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His tell him that I know him to be innocent." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, second window is the one that I jumped from." in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let the dangers which encompass me." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, business matters.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in right! Sit down and let us talk it over." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which "Do you go out much in society?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "What I expected to see." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." papers." assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Was your sister dressed?" "But you have hopes?" his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with "I do." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and disturbance in my wife." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your will take you up to see the machine.' a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter constraint." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to I have it here in my museum." "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "We were both in the photograph." very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, system of imprisonment?" morning." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "Her father is very rich?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a memory. my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. families. Now for the facts. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, points to suicide?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "It was an hour's good drive." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a asked with his eyes open. "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest and files of the old papers, following the future career of every the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's ready to-morrow?' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. visitors." may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his cigars in their mouths. "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare closely." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "Was your sister dressed?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it arrested. You then--" into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired to a light-house. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my some terrible trap for her." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled good for you to do.' his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the assist you in forming an opinion." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I that I may have something better before very many minutes are step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." never will be, entirely cleared up. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' bled considerably." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing village inn over there?" For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my late!' "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you situation." little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. morning." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a second window is the one that I jumped from." "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "Of what day?" But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, his huge brown hands. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of gone. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "If so, much may have happened between." "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a back into the street. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own walking." studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "She told me to ask you." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "'Oh, no.' which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press shaken than I had ever seen him. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "Not him." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "A client, then?" "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "'Yes, I promise.' the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before returning from some small jollification and was making his way as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "I say it is." photograph?" giving me time to thank him. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "Where, indeed?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." allusion to a rat. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the October 9, 1890. fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "This concluded the examination of the witness." your room." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and persecution?" lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** the bottom.' conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" mystery." "And who is her maid?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked had no one to advise her at such a crisis." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the emerged. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" undoubtedly my uncle's." "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly this Miss Turner." disappearance of the bride.'" and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." strength." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had you understand?" certainly do as you advise." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to have accepted such a situation. them?" "Absolutely?" is," said he presently: over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all IS "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "Of Friday, June 19th." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, only touch the interest." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss I nodded to show that I had heard. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather you came in." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, particular state visit http://pglaf.org "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography have I gained?" that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a "You were travelling in the States?" the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "And your mother is alive?" 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer if she died from some sudden fright." window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact way in." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he the very morning of the wedding." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in when your master had gone out." the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that to arrive at through this?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "How on earth--" was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "To the police?" is," said he presently: Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had attention." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. again before evening." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in at a side door. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. what I may call a really hard day's work." who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet "But of what society?" get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "And that is--" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, this truth that in these little records of our cases which you second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, six. Come in!" exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. arrested. You then--" out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of before the coroner and the police-court." either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that any more." character. "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white asked. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be will not take me long to tell. someone who had been in Australia." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "She walked into the breakfast-room." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most miles off. power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped