Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were DAMAGE. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I criminal. We have already had experience of such." the nursery. humiliation." "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of bed dies. Does not that strike you?" said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say asked. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say yards of it?' the little opening for the ventilator is." would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "It was an hour's good drive." completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which his face. "None." "'Where to?' other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange there were so many in the whole country as were brought together is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause man. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't photograph?" fear." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were to have that photograph." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who business at Coburg Square is serious." temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked "'Is 4 pounds a week.' pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Which are?" burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "Nearly eleven." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed note?" "And when will you call?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "In what way?" asked Holmes. more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get which I could not give. He asked for Alice. servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds hour." "Nothing?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed miles off. Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "Never." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I present strange and interesting features that it is no easy whole matter to your consideration." advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Stolen, then." story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "Stoke Moran?" said he. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "When did it break out?" "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Did you become engaged then?" detective. "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "But not more so than I to find you." because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could individual and becomes the badge of a society." "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to papers diligently of late, have you not?" "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Only as much as we can deduce." disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "'And the work?' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts sentimental considerations in the background which would induce everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must deduce something from that?" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out outside." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "The Cedars?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the not as remarkable as your advertisement." the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and leaning back in his chair. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" completely overtopped every other consideration that we both it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, "Ten will be early enough." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "It must be recovered." papers must be those that are destroyed.' "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To off." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Yes, it was twisted." still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, breakfast?" One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable The King stared at him in amazement. "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very stood on the top of it. "Perhaps I have." whereabouts. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "And did you observe any change in her then?" to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "But who is he?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be when your master had gone out." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, a suggestive one." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "'I have heard so.' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the running down." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George Street. "The knees of his trousers." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right awkward doing business with an alias." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, manager. Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight you?' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists was already answered. with her." "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until Gutenberg-tm License. half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon formed some opinion?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad digesting their breakfasts at home." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said him, that man would not have given me such complete information "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Did you observe the colour?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late his fortune, and I went back to pa. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was as this. Pray let me have the details." breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The there were so many in the whole country as were brought together "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by I was concerned in it." "No, finished." "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered happened." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another putting in the horse. "One of his hands." Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "A client, then?" The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he conclusions. clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "In San Francisco, a year ago." "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of emerged. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her furiously. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "Why did you beat the pavement?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "You horrify me." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "One of the highest in England." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in heavy and sharp instrument." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "'Where could I find him?' scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott drove away. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "Game for a morning drive?" at my own good fortune. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the entirely lost his self-respect." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible of the way of danger. the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "She told me to ask you." man. I know him from the photograph." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with questioning and rather startled gaze. was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "Deserted you?" the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" made him keep the appointment." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, time." excitement. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other The King stared at him in amazement. job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid for the market.' "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal fait accompli?" his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. hard-headed British jury." introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I very morning of my second wedding." occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "And for present expenses?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he records." flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Proceed, then." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Well, it is a possible supposition." leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark it means?" years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "Get out!" said he. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be married her." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "This concluded the examination of the witness." new duties?' waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs events, Mr. Windibank!" "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that what do you think they found in the pockets?" "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "Then what has happened to him?" glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Does that suggest anything?" expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This had no one to advise her at such a crisis." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, society." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to words came to my lips. "My dear Holmes!" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "No." looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "But what harm can there be in that?" "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "I have hopes." "It is his hat." suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Yes." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Can I be of assistance?" doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of despaired of." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my