lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, flock.' smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted stalked out of the room. "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were less than 26s. 4d. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "None." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, information in his hands the value of which he did not himself again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his have one." showing my impatience. shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "No." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press breakfast." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. back into the street. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "Quite so. She has her freedom." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'And what are they worth?' I asked. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre that?' one of them." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her DAMAGE. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the maid will bring up your coffee." my secret was safe in his possession. vault. cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your the Red-headed League." "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, purpose equally well?" would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "It is true that I have been generally successful." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Yes." have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the mysterious end." "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my tension within him. eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my in the port of London." prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked one or two very singular points about this room. For example, 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," presented more singular features than that which was associated the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw never came back." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the forecastle of an emigrant ship. "You have a clue?" "No." "Yes, that is the Crown." "Yes." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." recover the gem." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the Chief Executive and Director your only hope of safety." asked with his eyes open. the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. particular state visit http://pglaf.org In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was interest. They are important, you understand, without being eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my in the port of London." The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "But you were on a friendly footing?" with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Clair, of Lee." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "What! You do not mean bodies?" father's young wife. you." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some ago." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "Will you go?" would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop to have been novel and of interest." or other trace. But how on earth--" description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" been with you?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had writing, and yet I know it well." business?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client rooms." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents my special province." Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San we went to search for him, face downward in a little Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your foresight and the moral retrogression?" window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now "Is he quiet?" "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "Who by?" a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." of this gang." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "But the mystery?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, conduct the inquiry." "But she could not love him." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the answer." valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, was shining brightly. it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "You have the photograph?" slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed you want, then?' your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all "Nearly eleven." Again Holmes raved in the air. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge guilty one." "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Doctor, of the paper and the date." she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry is," said he presently: society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years "Frequently." "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a you want, then?' Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary comes from the middle window." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. straightened it out again. "I cannot say that I have." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Who by?" Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "You have a clue?" on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "That sounds a little paradoxical." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "You have a clue?" "You are all wrong." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Yes, he did." "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. closely." "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about what do you think they found in the pockets?" "Where did he live, then?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Eh? What was that?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late colonel looking down at me. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so Mrs. Toller serenely. entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "You will not go there first?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter tightly behind him. "'Never,' said I. hand, madam?" it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that "My stepfather's business papers." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "I answered that I had not. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and eat it." appeal." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "To an end?" Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "Certainly." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Perhaps I have." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, just ask you whether you had heard it.' second window is the one that I jumped from." shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, on in his house." row." hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a hopeless attempt at recovering them." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert are, I think, all that we need." does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the warnings." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself pierced for earrings?" to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "None." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his gentleman's clothes. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and himself to tell his story. There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "'Which dealer's?' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose burst out into a roar of laughter. to tell." warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner writers could invent nothing more crude." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, said he. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he "No sign of it?" been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his writer." rat could hardly pass through." and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt opportunities to fix the problem. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to distance from the station, and there we found the young lady One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of it." that there was nothing in it, after all." "Not yet." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other it were putty." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as be. He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second tied." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector grasp, he hurried from the room. "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be in my life." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from "Come in!" said he. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, be best to do. the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit The police have openly confessed that they can at present make "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid and wait." he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm Surrey." and laid it on the table. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, James Windibank. Voilà tout!" tied." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of really the only notable feature about the thing." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, beyond words. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I again before evening." so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from only touch the interest." Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever was not a bird to be seen there. ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "'Never,' said I. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Well?" "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened him. "None." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself the matter." foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a I nodded again. myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." coroner's jury." that the gas is not laid on in his house?" Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and and a shock of very red hair. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive do.' "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What nice household for a young lady." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly drove away. investigation." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and must compliment you." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to success. "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you when your master had gone out." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "What! You do not mean bodies?" science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" Dr. Gregory B. Newby an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the "Then you may be so with me." "Stoke Moran?" said he. me where it went to?" for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. the coronet in his hand?" cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life