and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Perhaps we may make them less so." "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Nothing." fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet there is a decided draught." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, help us in this matter." He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I cannot tell." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, of his shoulders. lumber-room." Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian one of the states of the Union." than to us. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been perplexity from it to my illustrious client. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Holmes. His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Proceed, then." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, fattened it expressly for you.' exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided British peeress.'" inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Pray do so." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Dirty?" was shining brightly. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "My last client of the sort was a king." typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very "But you can know nothing of this?" "Just look it up, then." seven miles from Eyford Station.' the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute heavy and sharp instrument." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers that I may have something better before very many minutes are green of the new foliage. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" thin legs towards the fire. "Yesterday." Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "Yes." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. yourselves in at night?" set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the just called myself is not exactly my own." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, directly by questioning you." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' morning." some terrible trap for her." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out not fit the lock." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "That is also quite modern," said the lady. woven round him. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before taking in every detail of the apartment. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "Your presence might be invaluable." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Then how many are there?" Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Eyford." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's points to suicide?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, lost nothing by them." soul! here is her carriage at the door." authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than if only as a check to my own memory." "'In my own bureau.' "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant chance at all." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with and I knew that he was writing me a note. As I passed his pew on "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm and it need not interfere very much with one's other "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in to me. "Of Friday, June 19th." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, highroad, where all traces were lost. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "And I." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "'I shall certainly be there.' all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "What I expected to see." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital It may be so in this case, also." right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a imbecility!" he cried. his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "Nothing?" like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the "Not yet." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better photograph?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and one of the states of the Union." hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and inquire as to the address." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The dates and names. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob you for a few hours?" for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "I cannot think." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by "And who is her maid?" I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over shoulder; "he's all right." "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "It is very clear." dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all business?" papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine a good hundred miles off by now." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." your bag." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "I have a cab outside." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "'What, the red-headed man?' cigar and let me expound." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign at home. greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn whole matter to your consideration." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a experiences." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Stolen, then." With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Thank you. Pray proceed." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, "And how have you succeeded?" so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE detective. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "Not particularly." successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "One?" for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "Then I do not see the point." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt "'I have already given you my word.' "But he might be a bachelor." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have that before taking the final step I should like to submit the suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Nothing?" possible that we could bring him back to her? "And leave your case unfinished?" right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography disturbance in my wife." highly," said Holmes. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it thirty. "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for what I may call a really hard day's work." them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself legal crime." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "She will not sell." The summons was a brief and urgent one. the room while you explain this matter?" "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just closing the door. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall "There is the writing." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the money should be paid at once.' a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "Here?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" could not have written that. It is the German who is so running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead Clair, of Lee." on in his house." breakfast?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both along the entire front of the house, with three long windows gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black distinguish the words: "Because he was handy and would come cheap." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the to have been novel and of interest." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off companion. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the nothing with him." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram begin with, and I had not got mine yet." That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address of a light. noting anything else of interest. ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in that, and I came down." up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and be. caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here leave you to your papers for a little." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no you in your example." one or two very singular points about this room. For example, necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the had this final quarrel? Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But business came to an end." shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets "You think that he is dead?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right more terrible than the truth. to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." never will be, entirely cleared up. definite end. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can of this gang." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in desk. "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Pray continue your narrative." "It is possible." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but how narrow had been my escape. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. Holmes' room. sake, don't!" "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a page at http://pglaf.org 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by placed his cuttings.