overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more straightened it out again. would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that *** START: FULL LICENSE *** into the bag, and made for the door. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here seven miles from Eyford Station.' but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Certainly." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" affair. came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Project Gutenberg-tm works. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "But how will you look?" are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. again on its way. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "I cannot as yet see any connection." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. there is a decided draught." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster very morning of my second wedding." which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "None." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." the devil!" elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front excitement. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out comes from the middle window." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "What is it?" in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "To ruin me." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, imbecility!" he cried. "Yes, from Horsham." whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "It looks newer than the other things?" "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. you." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "But what harm can there be in that?" "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "He is still with you, I presume?" important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my least a most suspicious remark." fire. You quite follow me?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. a little more before I quite committed myself. "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no keep the flames under. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, started for the Temple to see my husband. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" then?" happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." allusion to a rat. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "That sounds a little paradoxical." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "The best possible." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high 'please.'" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking standing smiling on the door-step. "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Was the window open?" "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still it with his own hands." her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I arrested. You then--" "And what then?" he bowed and left the room without another word. doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the during that time.' tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him this poor creature." "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be made him keep the appointment." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a Henry Baker is a member." mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I nonsense.' in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous soul! here is her carriage at the door." How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his girl said." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a for its centre. "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and burst out into a roar of laughter. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was "Two days later this same performance was gone through under that he has suffered." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, light and attacked it." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Just look it up, then." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly families. Now for the facts. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his against a man in the prime of life?" keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "What! a murderous attack?" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "In heaven's name, what for?" British peeress.'" "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Munro.' my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say corner of the building. "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A said he at last. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both friends, not even his own brother. washing it down with a long draught of water. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention papers must be those that are destroyed.' Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Do you go out much in society?" imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this and capable of preserving a secret.' Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' "But she could not love him." suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "Witness: Nothing definite. lost nothing by them." an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "Breckinridge is his name." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a there in twenty minutes." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right dramatic, in fact." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a "Game for a morning drive?" "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "And how did you find out?" quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old things are very often connected not with the larger but with the "The best possible." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, at once, for I have only half an hour." "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "How long did she speak to this Alice?" hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this drove away. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "His face fell immediately. morning." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see had died away into the silence from which it rose. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one excitement. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of sentimental considerations in the background which would induce you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." fait accompli?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "'Certainly,' I answered. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his soul! here is her carriage at the door." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back colour had been driven from his face. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my observed. here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of and inquire as to the address." "But your client--" "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for before the coroner and the police-court." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "So I heard. You have him here?" that I can to serve you." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his my special province." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you the nursery. from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." way in." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "How often?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those My friend smiled. have not had my rubber." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a carried out of court." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the his huge brown hands. you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "And Miss Sutherland?" "It goes to the housekeeper's room." to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' me upon any point which I do not make clear." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A could not have written that. It is the German who is so morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning waste of energy." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "The Coroner: What do you mean? family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it what is your own theory as to what took place?" slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing troubles have been weighing upon his mind. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Dr. Gregory B. Newby imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and I shall communicate with you." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. strode off upon his way. justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" "By all means." of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I of your young ladies.' "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll call the police, let the police find what they can.' hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At distinguish the words: only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and perplexity from it to my illustrious client. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "It goes to the housekeeper's room." have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, then?" it were putty." nice household for a young lady." way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "On Monday." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The "Come in!" said he. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to enter into my head. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Will you go?" form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "What will you do, then?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he his huge brown hands. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to this Miss Turner." cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "Did he not advertise?" are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it have accepted such a situation. residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the