"You did not overhear what they said?" "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled call it cruel." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was that you wished to speak to me?' the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right at my own good fortune. conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But "You will not go there first?" as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of to affect your life." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "But what is it you wish?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since I nodded to show that I had heard. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with certainly not very gracious." whereabouts. step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be been shamefully used." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "I see many objections to any such theory." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "But to whom?" as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the very peculiar words of the dying woman?" "What, then?" possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. room. how narrow had been my escape. cigars in their mouths. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully shall use the carriage to-night." corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual tell them apart.' Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Then, how do you know?" "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "Two days later this same performance was gone through under to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: now. It seems that there had been some informality about their one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can late!' I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and will he say when he returns?" tightly behind him. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon more terrible than the truth. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I ashen face. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Ah!" homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these to-morrow." back into the street. locked. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "Proceed, then." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Just look it up, then." "Ten will be early enough." surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm "Where, then?" card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to off." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Yes." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case answer." him." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my our word." enter Dr. Roylott's room." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "And when will you call?" tassel actually lying upon the pillow. sufficient punishment." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who look upon these things in a different way." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which really the only notable feature about the thing." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of quickly through a disagreeable task. headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "What I expected to see." my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies "'Most admirably.' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be lumber-room." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Yes." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer was it brought him the coronet? he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is room?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an I shall communicate with you." the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "You did not overhear what they said?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. go back?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could taking in every detail of the apartment. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle served to weaken the effect. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' "'What, the red-headed man?' either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "10th. John Swain cleared. "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should writing, and yet I know it well." "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "One of his hands." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just entirely lost his self-respect." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "I was sure that I might rely on you." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under pressing in one house as in another. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in "'Ample.' do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of it. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a "But who is he?" observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen them?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their not come at once?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the of receipt of the work. money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able where she found matters as described by the last witness. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. and shall probably return to London by the evening train." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On the inner apartment." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting said I. carried out of court." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'Yes.' Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid "How can you tell that?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. these bleak autumnal evenings." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "'And what salary do you ask?' I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I page at http://pglaf.org gone. has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "I say it is." father's place of business?" whereabouts. figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Have you her photograph?" helping a boy to put up the shutters. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you London for the present?" "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "What?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. emerged. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "No sign of it?" "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "No more words. Get out!" newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an of Mr. Rucastle's." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this your room." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "I will, Miss Turner." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United question," said Holmes, smiling. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon emerged. with some details as to your case." "I assure you that I am in your hands." "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "No." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "'Stolen!' he cried. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." beyond words. overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so carried out of court." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Yes." "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this at my remark. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you prove to be little relation between the different incidents of them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug respectable self." often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he relation between them, and what the object of his repeated interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in IS have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love south, for the country is more deserted there." foot. questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "No, my brougham is waiting." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a sufficient punishment." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the as he folded up the epistle. will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he of the vacancies.' "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the my little problems." Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project the devil!" moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "No?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Yes, at the mines." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had Holmes rather sternly. at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the him and tried to hold him back. the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "No sign of it?" will not take me long to tell. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "If so, much may have happened between." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "What are they?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen strange features which were associated with the two crimes which latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent you came in." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these deduce something from that?" everything which you would wish to know." a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the beg that you will break it off." hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close I am not easy in my mind about them." us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "It is no ordinary one." which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots never came back." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full