It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Pray continue your narrative." the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This letters?" however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "From his hat?" earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "But of what society?" story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and ago." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "In what way?" asked Holmes. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as "Yes, but only for you and me." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'Yes, it was gone.' mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "That you are never beaten." Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it have accepted such a situation. fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "So I am. Very much so." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Only as much as we can deduce." "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly that you saw all that I did." "It was." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed gives a meaning to it." Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get case before our client came into the room." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another posted to-day." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "When did she vanish, then?" relief. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you developed." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium have been better. It is all right." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "'Quite sure, dad.' "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Nothing." 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "But what harm can there be in that?" Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification This is what he says: was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "I cannot imagine." "What have you to say now?" gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "No." learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "What will you do, then?" who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Pool. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it points to suicide?" ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "I was afraid that you were engaged." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, train from Paddington which would bring you there at about dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we said I. have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his seen the man in the road." lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "No. His orders were to stay in the house." the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. Edgeware Road. carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Holmes." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into him to go away.' sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he http://gutenberg.net/license). happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "'How far from the body?' individual and becomes the badge of a society." burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or "Have you her photograph?" "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and business." States. was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "And that is--" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I don't say that. Perhaps." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these breakfast?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" in your London, you will know that the office of the company is whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, directors, with the result that you have seen." "A thing like a cleaver," said he. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "I do." best detective that ever lived. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a forecastle of an emigrant ship. and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a Pope's Court, Fleet Street." eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime companion imperturbably. "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and followed. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "I shall most certainly do so." to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. roused himself from his reverie. stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. ourselves in the office." miles off. really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Gutenberg-tm License. and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email your equipment. has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. discontent upon his features. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You "No." "No sign of it?" a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have empty. incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the driver. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I in. was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in way in." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their God! What an exposure! What can I do?" his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. with you alone." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that like that before?" received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Yes, it was twisted." Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "Was your sister dressed?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "'What are you doing there?' he asked. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the fuss that is made over them." "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." was a lad." shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked the loss of it. English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and himself in a perplexing position. little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you "And the murderer?" "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when the running down." who was a member of your goose club." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, his forehead." Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "How many? I don't know." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, "'Ten to two.' in the dead of the night?' thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close Young McCarthy must be got off, however." unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the "10th. John Swain cleared. "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered yet." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of breakfast." while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who so.' gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "A confidential servant?" idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "'It is locked up,' I answered. have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with returned to France?" thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and empty. "When did it break out?" How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a the address that was given us in the advertisement. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me second window is the one that I jumped from." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in delighted to hear it," he said. "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as would apply.' definite end. Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "Will you go?" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." call for it in person on Monday morning.' rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "No. What a strange idea!" what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain which should have the effect of calling the attention of the place no limit on the sum I may draw." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, in darkness. bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am Dr. Gregory B. Newby present." "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over least a most suspicious remark." confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "She will not sell." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "I promise," said Holmes. me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I seen the man in the road." "And I to find an enemy." My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and said I. "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum in his hands." and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "Where, then?" value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be remarked. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." to have been novel and of interest." "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round of Fenchurch Street." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden depend upon your compliance." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in to affect your life." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Absolutely none." whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday individual and becomes the badge of a society." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back her also." cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "What will you do, then?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house woven round him. "Then you may entirely rely on me." roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits