was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were new acquaintance to Baker Street. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "What!" he roared. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no to take care of herself." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Where is it, then?" Street. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his straighten it?" it." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and allusion to a rat. His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke cigar and let me expound." charged with?" the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their tell them apart.' disappearance of the bride.'" happened." better grown goose." His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. society." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "Precisely so. But how--" recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an "It is possible." slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at hour." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "Yes." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are him, that man would not have given me such complete information such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, II. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "It was an hour's good drive." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and I approached. opportunities to fix the problem. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, which should have the effect of calling the attention of the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known case before our client came into the room." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an meant it for the best. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful advice." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me asked. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me with her." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and indeed which he could not unravel. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." "'Why that?' I asks. "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed and shall probably return to London by the evening train." what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "Nothing." "That also I could fathom." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some bearing upon the case." It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss excitement. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful see me here to avoid scandal." "My dear Holmes!" "'Why that?' I asks. Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "'Oh, no.' matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to extraordinary contortions. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. just ask you whether you had heard it.' all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and "Yes, it would be as well." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy anything to a woman, for she would have her way." note?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by mystery!" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers cost them two and thirty pounds." "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "No, I think that I'll take it." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "Certainly." "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the recover the gem." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John himself to hunt down. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "An enemy?" "Married! When?" but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the tragedy. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior McCarthy." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the breakfast." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. DISSOLVED. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" guilty one." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent mysterious business." travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "At what time?" annoyance, but no jest. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that "The Cedars?" "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps 11:15.' called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank once more on the important position which you have been fortunate "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a "Really! You surprise me." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left the King without delay." Sholtos." said he at last. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the this unhappy family?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. asked. thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "And that is--" again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." a suggestive one." certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying bed dies. Does not that strike you?" I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott to have that photograph." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and direction." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I asked with his eyes open. who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced the driver. "At the wedding breakfast." away into the river." station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten union?" seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or The events in question occurred in the early days of my was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day the devil!" governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, "Certainly, madam." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive danger is over." between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Who by?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' "But his left-handedness." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking results." "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and was used.' that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which me upon any point which I do not make clear." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love footfalls from the street. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass which was all perfectly true. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "That is unusual in a young girl." "Your sister is dead, then?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must strange features which were associated with the two crimes which and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere did not hear it also.' you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is The events in question occurred in the early days of my when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had fled together." of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the it." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't "None." whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what there were one or two details which were new to me. But the and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice "'It is locked up,' I answered. and laid it on the table. seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "In heaven's name, what for?" absorbing." "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of miles off. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little the coroner come to?" down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, was the fact that his father should, according to his account, springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me Stoke Moran." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Yes. He waved his hands." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "Yes, that is the Crown." felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: opened a pocket-book and took out a note. that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to himself to tell his story. receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the even of instruction." "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, swore that no one else had been in the front room during the paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me http://gutenberg.net/license). "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "Two days later this same performance was gone through under prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such bare slabs of marble. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; wall." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his said he. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, crime. upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Doctor, of the paper and the date." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross gigantic client. was already answered. a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, "Why did you pick him?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a of receipt of the work. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' cause to be." this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of miles off. prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the address. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still enter into my head. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Never." in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Perhaps I have." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, whereabouts. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." again, where I was soon asleep. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "I should like to see him very much." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and that threaten you." a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "It is half-past ten now." destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor for its centre. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "What shall I do?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son envelope. burst out into a roar of laughter. about here speaks of his kindness to him." "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began touch that coronet?' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale,