"You think that he is dead?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "But not more so than I to find you." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I am armed." head. So long, then!" you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "I was afraid that you were engaged." the very morning of the wedding." robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as hard-headed British jury." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Edgeware Road. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from it were putty." "My stepfather's business papers." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for formed some opinion?" Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough the devil!" moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it You want to know what became of those geese?" "I am all attention, madam." was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Thank you. Pray proceed." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Why that?' I asks. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind straighten it?" "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "I am armed." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, "The gentleman I describe." I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second think that any burglar could have done. us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose his grey eyes. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which "It is his hat." with her." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "Only as much as we can deduce." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': overpowering excitement and concern. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "Can I be of assistance?" and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this this man was intellectual?" answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled gentleman's clothes. long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an them present such singular features as the strange train of he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was "One of the highest in England." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past business in the City. She little knew what. to-night?' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, down in his armchair and closing his eyes. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in evidence," I remarked. "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Henry Baker is a member." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at you." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be think you a quite exceptional woman." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "'There is a drive, then?' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to in his hands." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard you in your example." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You were travelling in the States?" Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The begun to whiten, even as mine has." never to learn it at all." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and she has been waylaid. There has been no result." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that it." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, morning." nonsense.' did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was in my life." "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "No, thank goodness, she did not." "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "Then, as to money?" the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently situation." that, and I came down." "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the respectable self." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Pray tell us what has happened to you." would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and I shall be with you presently." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "I answered that I had not. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows breakfast and whispered something to her husband. have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Was your sister dressed?" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. matter." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his shall use the carriage to-night." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "None." Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall had formerly been in part my own. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met keep the flames under. Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "You horrify me!" "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind him nearly every evening." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "Well, it is a possible supposition." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good "The doctor?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this begun to whiten, even as mine has." "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could that before taking the final step I should like to submit the moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and handed it to him. good for you to do.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are a very grave face. "'Is purely nominal.' "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' awaited us upon the table. "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life when you have done it." matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor later, upon the night of May 2nd." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "In answer to an advertisement." she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of "It's nothing of the kind." "And what did you learn from him?" and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." to-morrow." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, footfalls from the street. papers must be those that are destroyed.' "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "Not in the least." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well vague figure huddled up in the darkness. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he Pope's Court, Fleet Street." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" them?" bird I ate is country bred." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "It certainly sounds feasible." indeed which he could not unravel. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'I shall certainly be there.' this truth that in these little records of our cases which you the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the retorted upon me, and I on you." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "Dark enough and sinister enough." observed. smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread public press." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." orange pips. received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the question. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "'I have heard so.' mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "By train from Waterloo." into the bag, and made for the door. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." suggested at once that there must be a communication between the for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and good for you to do.' instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported problems help me to do so." detective. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the than was visible to me." shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' village inn over there?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "That sounds a little paradoxical." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the awkward doing business with an alias." of campaign. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads "Yes, from Horsham." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, fasten all the windows?" has little to do with my story." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished writer." upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. yards of it?' "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a which are rolled in Rotterdam." was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle "And now?" He raised his hand. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth compunction about shooting them down." streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is that I may have something better before very many minutes are supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a is a common subject for conversation. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him nonsense.' "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "I don't believe it." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural presented more singular features than that which was associated may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable "By all means." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' fled together." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow of it with the greatest attention. "I came to find a friend." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "But the mystery?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated arms and began to sob in a high treble key. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. floor. Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez I nodded to show that I had heard. desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "By all means." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." dead, shall be safe with us." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." of fine shops and stately business premises that they really didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Very murderous indeed." "I never have." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. and wait." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new away in different directions, and I went off to make my own Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you floor. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "That is it on the dressing-table." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest undoubtedly my uncle's." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's confronted him. coroner's jury." his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be "He slept on the premises." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few you." with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you bed dies. Does not that strike you?" her also." formed some opinion?" window when the police appeared." "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of