could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "And now?" I asked. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send pierced for earrings?" sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing "'Is 4 pounds a week.' observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. your sleep?' brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the Sutherland?" works. See paragraph 1.E below. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. of Fenchurch Street." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question is worth.' "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. minor matters until to-morrow." twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" was not a bird to be seen there. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front learned something! Where are the gems?" be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They here." "My last client of the sort was a king." "Quite so." "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the danger is over." address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "What steps will you take?" I asked. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those beyond words. typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all done what I asked you, Jones?" its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I am armed." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you to miss it." Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the perplexity from it to my illustrious client. faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Very truly yours, nonsense.' "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, as he remarks, very much against the son." The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "No more words. Get out!" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was particular state visit http://pglaf.org gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside humiliation." upon a handsome competence. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to and wait." very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon next day. home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "Yesterday." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Yes, I have one waiting." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from I took the paper from him and read as follows: "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his Stoke Moran." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. with you?" "Yesterday." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Where is it, then?" someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "Very truly yours, You want to know what became of those geese?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm the Assizes." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It directly by questioning you." face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me suspect him." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something "Why serious?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've digesting their breakfasts at home." All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "How about poison?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "Pray let us have it, for all that." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he fatally injured? held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just "Married! When?" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Has he come with you to-night?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. brandy and water within his reach. means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "And how did you verify them?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they "I am in hopes that she does." house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "My private note-paper." unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of companion. Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Not I." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "She told me to ask you." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining bachelor.' "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that there has been an enclosure here!" shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "'Is 4 pounds a week.' half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Get out!" said he. "What can it mean?" I gasped. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." business." one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, at my remark. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." spare." was it brought him the coronet? We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as it." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such asked with his eyes open. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which was keenly on my guard against him. because she had spent so short a time in this country that she thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Yes." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Never." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' third from London." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have McCarthy." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view "I came to find a friend." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are "To an English lawyer named Norton." work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in in this way: so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "What?" man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "A confidential servant?" possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are round and wave him away like that.' goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Where is it, then?" Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Bought." good-night and bustled off upon her way. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be once more. people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, this unhappy family?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his not within a twentieth part of the market price." this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "Now, then, what's the last entry?" black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double words came to my lips. be.' at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "It is true that I have been generally successful." several quiet little villages up there." "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to fatally injured? yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most 1.E.9. them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered any more." noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his carpenter." lumber-room." obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry right! Sit down and let us talk it over." presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I the side-table." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed the coronet in his hand?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in front of me. few hundred pounds.' feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal then?" "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "Yes." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you "I don't believe it." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of promised to bring home. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't which we had just quitted. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is "None." what is your own theory as to what took place?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, populous neighbourhood." "She will not sell." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his time." of this gang." "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "On your arm?" and glanced through. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to furiously. signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "You have carte blanche." on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the the matter?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "One?" "What is it, then--a fire?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried for securing the situation." wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are certainly do as you advise." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the new duties?' these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "We were both in the photograph." "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "I will get her to show me." indeed happy." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. until night should bring an explanation. was lame." heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, McCarthy's innocence. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan despaired of." neither fascinating nor artistic." other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "What can it mean?" I gasped. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "'You cannot say what it was?' over with notes and figures. "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend he bowed and left the room without another word. possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but The events in question occurred in the early days of my Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something details."