struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes "'Yes.' Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Entirely." people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "How can you tell that?" 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "It is to him that this trophy belongs." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole where Mr. Fordham shows you.' respectable self." and a shock of very red hair. in. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would introspective fashion. burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" Where does the thing come from?' very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, manager. "Well?" hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "There are none." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf him to go away.' Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be stepfather?" affection." relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "Indeed! Whose, then?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "Your sister is dead, then?" "'In my own bureau.' case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no bears upon the case?" say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less since then to throw any light upon what became of him." there were one or two details which were new to me. But the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." and glanced through. increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were views." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "I have solved it." accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a wall." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "And the murderer?" - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture "I shall most certainly do so." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need chamber." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "I am sure." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" like gravel from a pit.' without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It that the gas is not laid on in his house?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to them present such singular features as the strange train of you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "But your client--" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. room had already been engaged for us. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to stalked out of the room. case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for companion. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "What do you make of that, Watson?" unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness train.' sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a power." we went to search for him, face downward in a little second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "I have seen the police." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. lectures into a series of tales." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "And why in hopes?" cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my invisible to me," I remarked. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and handed it to him. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from the bottom.' "Well?" sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "From his hat?" It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as followed. the devil!" Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number the station." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. which our visitor detailed to us. that hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the it. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "We must sit without light. He would see it through the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned affair. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the carried out of court." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all entirely devoid of interest." paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. "'And what are they worth?' I asked. Chief Executive and Director "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." "'What, the red-headed man?' what do you think they found in the pockets?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Nothing." "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "And when will you call?" is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I what do you think they found in the pockets?" endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would "Were they all fastened this morning?" do you make of it all?" "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he sooner or later she must fall a victim. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right you do it in twenty minutes!' little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit questionable one." be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "No legal papers or certificates?" "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his Miss Holder?" province." "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "And that is--" "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must public press." guilty parties." distinguish the words: had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the best detective that ever lived. My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Certainly." following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "She showed me, as I told you she would." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an hard-headed British jury." "'Then let me do so?' these bleak autumnal evenings." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "I cannot tell." Have you good authority for what you say?" traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Yes, that is the Crown." present." didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Her father is very rich?" probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "Yes." respectable self." reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm may have an influence upon European history." are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "And for present expenses?" tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling are, and they are waiting for us." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a have one." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and with frightened eyes at his accuser. appeal." The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Holmes, the busybody!" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a in a very precise fashion." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you man. I know him from the photograph." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having this man was intellectual?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. entirely lost his self-respect." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were asked. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right himself. Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the ourselves in the office." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been if only as a check to my own memory." that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "Yes." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely that some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to whereabouts. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this means taking possession of that which another person has a prior ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. Street. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as "But how?" "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Will you go?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "'Where to?' "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Certainly." "He might." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich existence." caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Yes." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Ample." unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily he died? assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may leave you to your papers for a little." introspective fashion. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "It's nothing of the kind." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to rose-bushes. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back the roots. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Yes, it was twisted." "I do." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "And from a noble client?" There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father ashen face. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at upon the shelf for the interim." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand will take you up to see the machine.' arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see when your master had gone out." off." weapon." helping a boy to put up the shutters. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the could go. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "No?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "When did she vanish, then?" "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I held up the lantern and gazed about him. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his when your master had gone out." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "To an English lawyer named Norton." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' searched, without anything being found which could incriminate remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three you understand?" "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by