his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it that there was nothing in it, after all." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE about. and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, such attractions and accomplishments?' Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "One horse?" interjected Holmes. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. house for five minutes.' much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Yes." discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, that there was nothing in it, after all." stalked out of the room. you understand?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "I warn you that they are very incomplete." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some his cane at the bell-pull. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my "Where is it, then?" unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "Pray be precise as to details," said he. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "No, but the enclosure is." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Holmes, the busybody!" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "The murder was done with it." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "I am armed." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" results." "'Certainly,' I answered. "May I see it?" "'I have heard so.' betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "'I have already given you my word.' inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that "An enemy?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and a very grave face. Serpentine Avenue. its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low highly," said Holmes. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Pray continue your narrative." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'What are you doing there?' he asked. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet Mary, has deserted me." of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE "How about poison?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. late!' interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly be.' I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the "The gentleman I describe." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the problems help me to do so." earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "'I have already given you my word.' she used." "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. less than 26s. 4d. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I nonsense.' Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "What!" he roared. "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help retorted upon me, and I on you." salesman. 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in four million human beings all jostling each other within the of fine shops and stately business premises that they really Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You conversation I have gathered that they have been married about 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have said I. "Could he throw no light?" "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "We have tried and failed." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help observed. third from London." "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He such person." "'A dozen yards or so.' his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled and the church but not where the lady lived." "Well, it is a possible supposition." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what for the market.' "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we completely overtopped every other consideration that we both and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought thin, with a long, sharp nose?" similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle yourselves in at night?" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "My Mary? Impossible!" wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" "Ah!" "How did you trace it, then?" "Well?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her several quiet little villages up there." "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "What, then, did Peterson do?" he bowed and left the room without another word. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as his cane at the bell-pull. perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the footfalls from the street. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that The events in question occurred in the early days of my machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the than was visible to me." "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Ten will be early enough." vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'What do you call purely nominal?' entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I in his hands." "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their until night should bring an explanation. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" "What are they?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you be there in time for your coming." "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Your presence might be invaluable." set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been in his hands." armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were public press." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' was already answered. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Dark enough and sinister enough." terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "On your arm?" "His face fell immediately. is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "I have hopes." cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "Was your sister dressed?" "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black him!" really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at III. business matters.' what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say allusion to a rat. gentleman's clothes. "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If of the efforts of the United States government and of the better there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely The police have openly confessed that they can at present make merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City figure." the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the relief. my former friend and companion. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to six. Come in!" "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as 'I should be able to look after that for you.' fat-encircled eyes. such attractions and accomplishments?' white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the in darkness. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the cigar and let me expound." "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey without success. At last the little money which I had saved began certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "On your arm?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Not I." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "I don't believe it." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "None." to me. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out cup of tea. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose think you a quite exceptional woman." "Precisely." thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran rat could hardly pass through." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "My last client of the sort was a king." bled considerably." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has little adventures." of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was main points of my analysis." and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I photograph a cabinet?" is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too unclasping of his long thin hands. the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" of your young ladies.' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second head. So long, then!" "How did you deduce the select?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." do.' "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Stolen, then." promised to bring home. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. "It must be recovered." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the lamp. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with rose-bushes. waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "Perfectly so." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he the coronet in his hands?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country pressing in one house as in another. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. your co-operation." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum respectable self." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "And I." "Where is it, then?" coroner's jury." appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." "Then, as to money?" roused himself from his reverie. the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "What can it mean?" I gasped. instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a quick march!" to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is felt?" "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of during the last few years, and there are many noble families to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." letters?" always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Very truly yours, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of meant it for the best. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to breakfast?" "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, giving me time to thank him. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "You have carte blanche." Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go "Was she in good spirits?" drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of