carpenter." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. will not take me long to tell. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend where Mr. Fordham shows you.' thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at electronic works may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' bore every mark of being an average commonplace British shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you closing the door. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." was a perfect sample of the class. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'I shall certainly be there.' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how were wasted." Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two him and tried to hold him back. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "If I can be of use." could gather together that I was able to avert another public utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official some city in a dream. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking the so-precious time, but come!' silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of lumber-room." like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part strode off upon his way. "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little letters?" high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass situation." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went and all of them with the keenest interest. and laid it on the table. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "What?" take the flies, but not before." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "Pray do so." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do that I may have something better before very many minutes are "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would during the last few years, and there are many noble families to "Why serious?" crime. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "Your French gold?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" business came to an end." already been minutely examined." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore exactly what you advise." dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Why did you pick him?" copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "Because he was handy and would come cheap." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." him. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, to a more successful conclusion." grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated "It is half-past ten now." "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner over here." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, chair. ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can was already answered. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the already referred to. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "No sign of it?" the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. works. See paragraph 1.E below. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed The King stared at him in amazement. "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I views." slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few plantation.' have I gained?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his advice." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their I. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "And your father? Did you tell him?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are than to us. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the promised to bring home. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "It is his hat." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were photograph?" whole matter to your consideration." platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be meant." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition about. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his him!" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and your co-operation." with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At then?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for hour." has little to do with my story." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Eh? What was that?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Yes?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? cost them two and thirty pounds." the station." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a before the coroner and the police-court." over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party conduct the inquiry." license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'What, the red-headed man?' trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My chemical work which was so dear to him. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. God! What an exposure! What can I do?" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "My last client of the sort was a king." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. Holmes' thin, eager face. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "And I to find an enemy." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out noble correspondent could be. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do absolutely follow my advice in every respect." agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from had died away into the silence from which it rose. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." there was no need for father to know." "Where to?" him nearly every evening." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Have you it here?" that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you "Yes." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "He said too much." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private I was concerned in it." shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "'I shall certainly be there.' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "But how did you gain them?" years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "What I expected to see." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, crime. business." mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own fish-monger and a tide-waiter." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at experiences." had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she important." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to was a loud and authoritative tap. "'Ample.' "And you can do nothing until then?" Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" His smile broadened. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Bought." daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "But you were on a friendly footing?" "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "9th. McCauley cleared. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of happened." "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "Who was the criminal, then?" they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, late." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the that you can jump it.' this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A some city in a dream. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, better grown goose." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "One of his hands." easy-going way." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem danger is over." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "'Where to?' which should have the effect of calling the attention of the strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with arms and began to sob in a high treble key. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Have you good authority for what you say?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his "Get out!" said he. that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure him!" face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to a little more before I quite committed myself. realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the served to weaken the effect. "Yes, certainly." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you peculiar to him. scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "Why did you beat the pavement?" call the police, let the police find what they can.' opportunities to fix the problem. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "But how did you gain them?" the devil!" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project thin, with a long, sharp nose?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, at a side door. and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "About a month then." ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "Where to?" "It must be recovered." "Of Friday, June 19th." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that open." an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually in the dead of the night?' Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. sooner or later she must fall a victim. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "No, distinctly professional." yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER "From his hat?" Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "No, but the enclosure is." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will distinguish the words: power." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. ashen face. should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place which we had just quitted. pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble get the tickets." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it you want, then?' you for a few hours?" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. him." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and furiously. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was your Highness to the police-station?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "Then, how do you know?" they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered.