helping a boy to put up the shutters. through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see The King stared at him in amazement. possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings voice, changing her seat as requested. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Where did he live, then?" wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of until night should bring an explanation. place no limit on the sum I may draw." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "It is to him that this trophy belongs." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we will be renamed. telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "No." took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that there were so many in the whole country as were brought together regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the derbies." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible is a common subject for conversation. "Thank you. Pray proceed." which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "It is to him that this trophy belongs." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and furiously. "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a DAMAGE. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle villagers almost as much as their master. until night should bring an explanation. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. it." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' Pool. these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Well, it is a possible supposition." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to wedding?" he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my purpose of examination. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "She will not sell." light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a was already answered. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the IS fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "I know where it is." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and if I call to-morrow?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. one of them." prisoner's face. "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to writers could invent nothing more crude." hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several minor matters until to-morrow." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "Oh, yes, easily." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to with frightened eyes at his accuser. hand, madam?" "Did your wife hear all this?" "Were they all fastened this morning?" never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Was your sister dressed?" "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three strode off upon his way. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic security.' "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you nothing of it?" day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." http://www.gutenberg.net glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "'No, I know no one in these parts.' never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Not in the least." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its he. and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed affair. go from here to the Strand." at my remark. he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to a light-house. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of wedding?" "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." cheerful." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "And I to find an enemy." companion imperturbably. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the of them has the shutters up.' my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with in a friendly supper." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "My stepfather's business papers." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round made his money." these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to is," said he presently: and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that to miss it." Street. my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "I have solved it." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "I know where it is." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive roused himself from his reverie. heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for fish-monger and a tide-waiter." criminal. We have already had experience of such." near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "What can you not understand?" Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I ashen face. really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the any more." objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old business." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "You know me, then?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had within hail.' "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of you in yours." bachelor.' said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek their singular warning or token before them when starting upon surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. chair. thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Stolen." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." had died away into the silence from which it rose. "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Is he quiet?" "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. prison!" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable Munro.' hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Murdered?" money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "Nothing." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Holmes. was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "'Certainly not.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not wedding?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must more terrible than the truth. when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond eavesdroppers?' "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted voice. "You are hungry," I remarked. are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "What have you to say now?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a page at http://pglaf.org "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a absorbing." surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of without success. At last the little money which I had saved began chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "'Quite sure, dad.' with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "Yes, sir." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be works. But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "And is that all?" slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." constraint." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was the little opening for the ventilator is." used to be." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for bonnet, and went out." time." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of lost nothing by them." impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "You are all wrong." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to held up the lantern and gazed about him. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did one of the states of the Union." himself. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was completely overtopped every other consideration that we both a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of main points of my analysis." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." for the market.' nonsense.' followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite matter over." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told "By no means." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is said he. during that time.' bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and back alive. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "My dear Holmes!" for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, excitement. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the never will be, entirely cleared up. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a delighted to hear it," he said. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest with her." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right ashen face. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. business at Coburg Square is serious." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average approach us with offers to donate. really the only notable feature about the thing." too. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Certainly, madam." tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and sooner or later she must fall a victim. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Surrey." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Proceed, then." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Stoke Moran?" said he. as he remarks, very much against the son." We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'What are you doing there?' he asked. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the a monotonous occupation." closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "How on earth--" "He said too much." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is "I was afraid that you were engaged." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been he. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "Pray let us have it, for all that." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man once more on the important position which you have been fortunate always that they were such commands as a lady might with Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring business." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "No, I had a dozen." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Because he was handy and would come cheap." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "The knees of his trousers." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of Farm upon the left." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. prepare for the new role I have to play."